A/N: Hello everyone. Here I am with the sequel to Nothing is How It Seems. I have to say that story did well... and to think I started it because I was bored... sighs. Let's hope this one goes just as well! If not better!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN GAVIN AND THAT'S ALL AND ANY NEW CHARCTER'S INTRODUCE IN THIS CHAPTER!
Because You LiveChapter One: This Day... A Year Ago
Draco woke up with a start as his Wizarding Wireless went off. He rubbed his eyes and sat up and turned the alarm off. He stretched and stood up and pulled on his black dressing gown and headed to the dining room two floors below.
Just as he was nearing the staircase he felt a funny jolt in his stomach, which cause him to stop walking. He turned and ran back to his room and over to his desk. He grabbed his year planner book and opened it to that days date.
July 2nd. Draco sat in his desk chair and starred at the date. No wonder he felt miserable. More miserable than he usually felt everyday. It was because on July 2nd last year the Great Battle had taken place. That day last year Draco had to leave Hermione, without saying goodbye. Not only that her bestfriend, Ron Weasley was murdered by Voldemort during a duel between Voldemort and Hermione.
It had been a year now since Draco had last seen Hermione in person. Sure she'd been the paper for about a month after the battle. But Draco could tell by the photos she was not herself, that she was hurting on the inside. And Draco knew exactly what she was feeling.
Draco gathered himself and took a deep breath and began to make his way down stairs for breakfast.
!Z!
Narcissa shook her head as she read that day's Daily Prophet. On the front page was a picture of three people. Two males and one pretty female who looked a lot like she was about to murder the photographer. Underneath was a heading was a heading that Narcissa herself would not have allowed to be printed.
Sighing she closed the paper and started eating her food which had gone slightly cold.
"Good morning Mum," said Draco entering the dining room and taking his seat across from her,
"Anything interesting in the paper?"
Narcissa reluctantly handed him the paper and Draco opened it up and his eyes widened at the picture. Before him was a picture of Harry, Hermione and Gavin all walking down Digion Alley. Hermione hadn't changed a bit since Draco last seen her, only her hair had grown longer. He could see she was not at all impressed with the photographer. Her eyes were narrowed and her jaw was set firmly giving her an angry look. Harry wasn't looking, his eyes focused on the ground. His hair was a tad longer and messier while Gavin looked as if he was coping better than the two beside him. His hair was wind blown and his brown eyes still had the gleam they always had in them.
"Read the title," said Narcissa softly.
Draco moved his eyes to the top of the page: Potter and Friends Struggle To Cope A Year After He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Murdered A Close Friend At The Great Battle.
"Who in their right mind would use that as a title?" asked Draco disgusted, "When we get out of here... I don't know what I'll do."
"When we get out of here... which will be when Draco? Next year? A month? A week?" said Narcissa, "We can't do a thing until your father lets the entire Wizarding world know of his intentions."
"Which will be when? He has over a thousand followers already. Most of them he forced to join. But still that's enough to start isn't it? The only way he's will 'get power' is when he takes action... Merlin any dimwit would know that."
Narcissa sighed, "I want to be out just as much as you."
"Do you? I live everyday in misery Mum! Look at her! She is not coping! I need to be with her! I've been away along time getting a drink haven't I?"
Narcissa stood up slamming her fork onto the table, "You think you are finding it hard? I haven't been able to mourn the loss of my cousin! Sirius died nearly 3 years ago! I've lived here for years all the way through while you have had the chance to go away to school Draco. And now you can run off to work whenever you need to escape... but me I stay here all day in and out. So don't go around saying you have it hard!"
Narcissa stormed out of the dining room and disappeared around the corner.
Draco tapped his hand on the table and stood up and walked to his room.
A week after the Great Battle he had received a letter saying he got the Potions traineeship at St Mungo's. He was surprised to find the work rather interesting. New Potions for all different injuries got made everyday, new ones were invented all the time. At the moment the top Potion Master's at St Mungo's were working on making a potion that will cure cancer.
!Z!
Hermione grabbed her St Mungo's MEDI witch robe and threw it on over her clothes. She had been training to be a MEDI witch a month after the Great Battle. And she found herself enjoying her work. Not only that but she found it took her mind off a lot of things.
After the Great Battle Hermione and Gavin moved to Hermione's old home where she used to live with her parents. Not only that but Gavin changed his last name to Granger giving him a complete fresh start at his new life. The first thing he did was buy the Potions shop in Digion Alley. So far it had been going really good.
Hermione brushed her hair and ran down stairs to the kitchen. Gavin was seated at the dining table eating some cereal.
"Morning," said Gavin quietly.
"What's wrong?" asked Hermione frowning at his voice.
Gavin swallowed his mouthful and pointed to the calendar. Hermione looked at it and read the date. She dropped the bottle or milk she had in her hand causing milk to spill all over the bench top and floor.
"A-a-a year," stammered Hermione in disbelief, "A year?"
"One year. You okay?"
"Ron's been gone a year? But it seems like yesterday he was talking to me about something to do with Quidditch, or messing up a potion in class. And Draco... it's been a year."
Gavin stood up and hugged Hermione, "You go to work... it'll take your mind off everything. I'll clean this up okay?"
Hermione nodded and grabbed her purse and apperated to work.
!Z!
Draco pocketed his wand and apperated to the sign in desk on the first floor. He looked around at the hustle and bustle of the already crowded waiting room.
"It's going to be a long day don't you think?"
Draco turned around and saw his boss Lorraine a lady with brown short hair and blue eyes. She was a really out going person whom Draco got along with. She'd been working here for about 20 years, since she was 18.
"Sure is," nodded Draco, "I pity the MEDI people more."
"Hmm," said Lorraine nodding, "How are you doing?"
Lorraine knew all about Draco's life and what he went through. He'd told her all about it after about a month of working for her.
"Mum and I got into a fight. I think we are both stressed and a desperate to get out."
"It's been a year today huh? I saw the paper. The picture of that girl... is that the one you love?"
Draco nodded, "Why?"
"No reason," said Lorraine.
Draco nodded and bent over to sign the book while Lorraine's eyes darted over to the elevator where she had just seen the same girl from the paper go into.
A year of working in the same building and not once did they run into each other.
Lorraine signed the book and both walked to the elevator.
"I think we have a meeting sometime this month with the MEDI's," said Lorraine looking a bit miffed.
"Why?" asked Draco.
"Apparently we have been falling behind on order's."
"How have we? We make over 100 potions a day."
"It's not good enough."
"That's just shit."
"I know. But what can we do? All we do is make potions. We don't administer them."
"Its because of us those people live."
"You tell them that Draco," said Lorraine as they stepped out of the elevator on their floor, "They won't care."
!Z!
Hermione walked over to the MEDI Witch's nurse station and smiled at her boss who was signing some papers, Blaise's cousin who was the same age as Gavin, Amy.
"Hey Amy," smiled Hermione signing the arrival sheet.
"Hello Hermione," replied Amy with a sigh, "I need to seriously tell the bloody nurses and Doctors on this floor to quit wasting all these potions."
"Oh... getting worse is it?"
"They reckon it's funny. Make the potion makers work harder. They work hard enough. This whole hospital has only one potion making section. It's on the floor below us. Have you been there before?"
Hermione shook her head.
Amy was the top boos of this floor of St Mungo's. Even though she was young, only 21, she was an amazing MEDI Doctor. She knew everything there was to know about healing and she was Hermione's teacher.
"Well how about you come for a walk with me?" asked Amy standing up.
Amy wasn't tall; she was roughly the same height as Hermione with light brown shoulder length hair with blonde and reddish coloured foils through it. Her eyes were a blue colour due to contacts.
"You sure that's okay?" asked Hermione.
"Yes. You can see your patients when we return. Besides you are going to know where to go aren't you?"
"I guess I am," smiled Hermione leaving with Amy.
!Z!
Draco through his jacket into his locker and pulled on his gloves and walked to the front area, which was a very large room. There were benches all around the room where the potions were made and at the front near the door was the desk where orders were taken.
Draco's work area was close to the desk at the front. He walked to it and lit the fire underneath his cauldron. He walked to the filing cabinet and pulled out his file and opened it on the front desk looking for his list of potions to make.
"You right there Draco?" asked Albert a guy in his mid forties. He too was grabbing his list out of his file.
"Yeah," replied Draco, "Just looking for my list that's all."
"Right then. Leave you to it then."
Albert waddled off. He was a large man who was shorter than Draco and had a duck waddle walk. But everyone loved him; he was like a father too all the young ones and a great friend to get advice from.
Draco found his list and walked back to his bench and was soon immersed in making a potion.
!Z!
"This is it," said Amy pointing to two big silver doors, "Lorraine Packard runs it. Lovely lady. A single mum after her husband cheated on her since her first born was 6 months."
"Oh okay," said Hermione.
"Come on," said Amy taking Hermione by the arm and walking in.
Amy pushed one door open causing the bell to ring.
They stood at the front desk waiting patiently. Hermione looked around the room reading information on the walls about certain potions.
An average sized lady walked to the desk smiling ay Amy.
"Hello Amy."
"Hi Lorraine. How are you today?"
"Oh getting there. And you?"
"Dead already. I've been here since 3am. Bloody Travis fell ill apparently. I know he's lying, he's cheating on his wife with the tart at the welcome desk."
"Really?"
"Yes. Wendy saw them at the Ice Cream Parlor in Digion Alley on Sunday. I couldn't believe it when she told me!"
Lorraine shook her head in disgust.
This was the usual chat that went on between everyone at St Mungo's, well those that got along like a house on fire.
"And Cindy hasn't got a clue Travis is cheating on her?"
"No one clue."
"Ah well... she will find out soon I guess. And who do we have here?"
"This is Hermione Granger," said Amy.
Behind Lorraine at a bench two rows away a loud smash was heard.
Hermione's head stopped wandering as her and Amy peered at the person who had broken something.
"Ahh well then," said Lorraine knowing it was Draco, "Nice too meet you... Hermione."
Again something else smashed.
"Nice to meet you too Lorraine," smiled Hermione, "Is everything okay?"
"Oh yes, I'm sure. Probably just jars that were wet and slippery. So what do you need to order?"
"Well... believe me Lorraine when I say I am going to be upping the MEDI's on my floor about this," said Amy handing her the order form.
Lorraine read it over and sighed, "When do you need the Order?"
"Take you time. They can bloody cope with what we got on my floor," said Amy firmly, "Don't over do your workers okay?"
"Right," said Lorraine, "Draco-"
Hermione this time dropped a vase she was looking at. She looked at Lorraine her brown eyes wide.
Lorraine looked at her, going pale. Behind her appeared the figure of Draco who too looked just as shocked to see her.
Hermione backed towards the door, tears filling up her eyes. She turned and pushed it open sprinting away.
"Oh dear," said Lorraine quietly, "Draco I'm so sorry... I didn't mean too."
Draco shook his head, "Just answer me this. Should I go find her and talk to her or let her hate me to keep her alive?"
"Well how about telling me this," said Amy who finally figured out who this Draco was having heard about it from Hermione and Blaise, "Are you the Draco Malfoy that I am thinking you are?"
"The one who left Hermione without saying goodbye because of my father?"
Amy nodded her eyes narrowed.
"Yes I am."
"Right... can I speak with you alone?"
Draco looked at Lorraine who nodded.
Draco followed Amy outside to the corridor, which was deserted.
"How is she?" asked Draco.
Amy sighed, "She has good days and bad days. But she is still hurting... and from what Blaise has said she hasn't stopped loving you."
"She has to move on."
"How can you expect her too? Would you move on?"
Draco sighed and shook his head, "Now she knows I'm here... I didn't even know she was here."
"She's been here for a year next month."
"What do I do? You know Hermione well don't you?"
"Of course I do. We work together and Blaise is my cousin."
"How hurt is she?"
"Very hurt Draco. She still cries at night and well... is waiting for you to come back... after taking a long time to get a drink."
!Z!
Hermione sat against a wall her knees drawn up to her body with her arms wrapped around them. Her head was leant forward against her knees as she cried her heart out.
She was hurting. Hurting like she never hurt before. He'd left her... without a goodbye. Sure she knew why he left. Gavin had told her about ten minutes after he'd left.
Flashback to last yearHermione and Harry sat in silence watching the rain pelt down like gunshots, hard and fast.
"Where's Draco?" asked Harry to break the painful silence.
"Getting a drink," said Hermione, "He probably got held up."
Harry nodded as Gavin walked around the corner. He looked stressed and as if he'd just been to a funeral, which they would be in a few days.
"Hey Gavin," said Hermione, "What's wrong?"
"Hermione," said Gavin calmly, "Well... Draco's gone. He had to leave... his father got away tonight and well... Draco had to go to him... to keep you alive and safe. He said to say he's sorry and that he loves you no matter what."
"No," said Hermione shaking her head and standing up, "You are lying to me! He would never leave!"
Hermione ran to the destroyed room looking for Draco, her heart pounding. She checked every room on that floor, her old room, Gavin's room and even the hidden room. But he was nowhere.
Hermione fell to her knees crying for Draco to come back to her.
End of FlashbackHermione leant back smacking her head on the wall. Tears were still falling down her cheeks as she heard footsteps coming her way. Hermione quickly wiped her face and stood up. She was about to leave when she heard her name.
Hermione spun around and shook her head. It was Draco. He looked at her with eyes of sadness.
"No," said Hermione backing away, "Don't come near me."
"Hermione you have to understand," said Draco calmly as he could.
"I do understand the reason you left! But you could've said goodbye to me Draco! Goodbye would've made me less hurt! I am still hurting now! Worse now than ever!"
"Than we need to talk."
Hermione backed down the corridor, "No... I don't want too... no you hurt me already I won't be hurt more... I'll get to close and than you'll leave... hurting me again."
"I hurt too you know!"
"As bad as me?" snapped Hermione, "I've lost a bestfriend! I've... been waiting for you to return with your drink, every night I dream of you coming back, every night I cry for you to come back. When all along you've been working here... right near me... and right now I hurt more than I've hurt all year."
Draco watched as Hermione sprinted down the corridor and into the elevator.
He turned and walked back to the potions door where Amy and Lorraine were waiting.
"How is she?" asked Lorraine quietly.
"Hurting more than ever. She won't come near me... I think that's what really made me see how much I've hurt her."
"You had to do it to save her love," said Lorraine, "She will see that in time."
"I guess so."
"I'd better go find Hermione," said Amy, "Take it easy Draco."
Draco nodded and walked back into the potions room.
!Z!
Hermione reached her work floor and clamed herself down and grabbed her clipboard and began seeing her patients. She acted as if everything was perfect in her life, which she did a lot since the Great Battle.
Amy found her half way through her rounds.
"Hermione go home."
"I'm fine Amy," replied Hermione, "I can deal with the fact that the guy I love and hate at once is working just a floor just near this one... yeah sure I can cope."
Amy sighed and lead Hermione out of the ward they were in to the corridor, "Go home okay? I don't want to see your face here till tomorrow."
Hermione sighed, "Okay fine."
"I send Blaise over to see you. You need to talk to someone about this alright?"
Hermione nodded and hugged Amy bye.
A/N: Well there is chapter one. Hope you all liked it... things will move along, just give the story the time it needs. Review!!
Love yas!
Love Coz!