He hated the sound of his feet hitting the floor as he ran down the hall. It reminded Draco of the sound of stampeding elephants. That's what happens when you are late and your boss is stubborn about those things. Stupid bitch, he thought. He slammed the stack of papers and coffee cup on his desk and sat. The door next to the desk opened.
"You're late, Draco. Zabini called from the Accidents and Catastrophes. We have to go to St. Mungo's at 10 to interview the no longer comatose auror for finalizing the paperwork. He can speak and understand English but can only read French for some reason. He also believes it's 1830 too. Harry gave the go ahead," She said.
"Yes, Ms. Granger," He sighed. "So I have to go with you?"
"Yes. Holly is on maternity so you have to double as my secretary and aide to all projects. Lucky you," She said. "Oh, and you get extra pay for it."
The door slammed shut and the phone rang. He hated this muggle device out of all the ones implemented into the Ministry. "Yes, lucky me," Draco muttered and picked up the phone. "This is Draco Malfoy at Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Hermione Granger's office speaking. How can I assist you?"
He didn't see her again until she exited her office at 9:45. She kept on walking, calling behind her, "Let's go Draco! The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can eat lunch. There's this new cafe in Diagon Alley I want to try."
Draco grabbed his bag and trotted after her. He finally caught up with her at the floos. "Is it just today you have to be late for everything?"
"You know Blaise. He's chatty on the phone. I don't understand how he got such a job in Accidents and Catastrophes out of all the departments and openings," Draco said. "Also St. Mungo's called about five minutes before you left your cave to give the details on this visit."
Granger narrowed her eyes. "And you couldn't have told me this beforehand?"
"I had just hung up the phone with Healer Cantermitt when you said it was time to leave. I haven't had the opportunity to say anything to you," he said. His voice had a clear annoyed hint to it.
Granger stood there quietly. "Well, are you going to tell me what he said?"
"He will meet us at the floos to take us to Thickey to see Mr. Hamline and will be present during the process," Draco explained.
"Hamline?" Granger questioned. "I thought his name was Shakesmen?"
Draco nodded. "It is. Allan Shakesman is his real name but he also believes he is Vladimir Hamline, a Lord in the court. Cantermitt says to not question any story he tells. The man has a violent rage too."
She grabbed a handful of powder. "He can't be that bad. St. Mungo's Hospital!" The green flames swallowed her.
"He can't be that bad," Draco mimicked in a high voice. "Pfft. She's not ready for this."
His boss was standing awkwardly in the hall next to a short, round man when Draco exited the floo. The man walked over and greeted him. "Mr. Malfoy, it's nice that you could assist Ms. Granger today. Vlad has started to calm down but moments happen. There is also the situation about—"
Draco interrupted the doctor. "We can discuss that matter after the situation with Mr. Hamline is taken care of."
"Shakesman," Granger muttered under her breath.
Healer Cantermitt caught it though. "Please do refrain from calling him Allan Shakesman. It is one phrase we do know triggers his outbursts. It has been a record three days since he has had one. Do not ruin it, Ms. Granger."
She scoffed. "How could I ruin it?"
"By being your normal, pushy, obnoxious self," Draco murmured.
"I heard that, Malfoy," She sneered. "Refrain from such comments or I will fire you. Now, Healer Cantermitt, could you please lead us to Mr. Hamline."
The small healer nodded and led them to Thickey Ward. Draco cautiously looked around as they walked through it. "No one is going to hurt you, Malfoy," She told him. He rolled his eyes but said nothing. How little she knew.
They found the auror on his bed. Allan Shakesman was a thin man with long, greying brown hair. His face looked that of a late fifty year old's and not one of a man in his mid-thirties. He had been in a coma for five years after being hit with a bombarda. Draco was amazed the man wasn't dead when he had first heard of the incident. It had happened at a small raid in Brighton. Looking at the sad man, Draco was relieved the auror had no family but his mother who suffered from an illness similar to a muggle disease called dementia.
Granger tried to approach the hunched over man but Cantermitt held her back and nodded to Draco. "Good morning, Lord Hamline. Lovely day we are having, no?"
The auror's head slowly rose. The empty blue eyes met equally empty grey ones. "Tis true. Who might you be? I have but no relatives to speak."
"A friend of Healer Cantermitt and an equal friend to you. My name is," He glanced over to Cantermitt. They hadn't discussed if their real names should be used. Luckily, Cantermitt understood and shook his head. "Leo Winthrop," He pointed over to Hermione. "And that is my colleague, Annabelle Dewey."
Granger groaned at his choices in names. The auror looked over at her. "It it seems your lady has taken ill."
Granger glared. "Excuse me—"
Draco cut her off quickly. "Afraid not, Lord Hamline. That just happens to be how she acts. She's quite the fiery one."
He nodded. "She must not be popular during the Season."
Granger looked bewildered. "Season! Just who—"
"Please ignore her, Lord Hamline. She will only take notes and refrain from talking," Draco looked directly at her for that last part.
"Of course Mr. Winthrop. Please call me Vladimir. Lord Hamline is too formal for such a conversation," Vladimir said.
Draco nodded. "Vladimir, what is the last thing you remember before waking up here?"
"I remember a flashing light and screaming. The man who cast the spell had on a mask with bars across the mouth and a black hooded cloak on. I fear I had no looking at the man's face for those reasons," He explained.
"And you remember for sure the man in the hooded cape and mask was the one to cast the spell?"
Vladimir nodded.
"Were you with anyone? A partner perhaps?"
Vladimir thought for a moment. "The likelihood is great I was. Alas, I cannot remember who though. There were others in the room but my eyes were only focused on the main causing me harm."
"Room?" Granger questioned.
Vladimir looked at her suspiciously. "Yes a room. Vaulted ceilings and giant windows of color along with red drapes decorating the stone walls is how one would describe."
She scribbled a quick note and showed it to Draco. He was found in a courtyard with Mulligan's body a few meters away. Anders never mentioned a room. Fulton was guarding the door. "Vladimir, do the names Mulligan, Anders, and Fulton sound of relevance to you?"
He nodded. "I remember calling for a Mulligan. The hooded, masked man yelled at an Anders. Another screamed 'We were friends, Fulton'. Does that help with your findings?"
Draco glanced at her. She nodded. "It does, Vladimir. Those were the men you were with."
He slowly nodded, "Anything else? It should be time for tea, correct Healer Cantermitt?"
"That is right, Vladimir. Time to say goodbye to Mr. Winthrop and Ms. Dewey," Cantermitt told the deranged auror.
Vladimir got up and shook Draco's hand. "It was an honor to meet you, Mr. Winthrop. I do hope we don't have to meet again. I don't like you much; however, you have my respect," He turned to Granger and kissed her hand. "I wish you luck at the Season, Ms. Dewey. I don't like you much either and hope we never meet again."
Granger smiled. "Likewise, Lord Hamline."
She grabbed Draco's hand and beckoned the healer to follow. "Now, Mr. Malfoy. It is time to discuss—"
"Draco!" A loud shriek split his ears.
He slowly turned and smiled. "Hello mother."
He glanced over and saw his boss's widened eyes and the healer's rosey cheeks. Apparently, his mother is what needed to be discussed.
Narcissa Malfoy hugged her son. "Draco, darling, have you come to take me home? The healer said I am well enough to leave. I'm ready to go, darling. You never came to visit me enough."
Draco turned to the healer. "That is what I have been trying to tell you, Mr. Malfoy. There isn't any forms of treatment left for your mother. The one potion a day is it. There is no point to keep her here in Thickey either. You will have to stay with her though. She's still not fit to be on her own. I'm afraid a house elf can only do so much. Perhaps she will get better with time and better company, or the gain of company," the healer said pointedly.
"My bags are packed, and we can go home to the Manor. I'm sure your father will be excited to see me. It was a shame he hadn't come to visit. Knowing Lucius he was busy doing his things," She chuckled quietly.
"Mum," Draco said softly, "Dad's in Azkaban. He has been for the past seven years, and we don't even live in the Manor anymore. We moved into one of the smaller properties out by the Channel a couple hours from London before you came to the hospital."
Narcissa's face fell. "Oh. Well that was always a lovely property. It felt nice and homey since it was small," Narcissa looked over and finally noticed Hermione. Her face instantly brightened again. "Draco, you never told me you had a lady in your life."
The two blushed hard. "I am not with your son," Hermione said curtly.
Narcissa's face fell again. "But...but...Draco? Draco tell me she is joking? Draco you can't be alone forever. You have to be happy, Draco. I want to see you get married! Draco, tell me she just has a horrible sense of humor!"
Draco glared at Granger. He then looked at Healer Cantermitt for assistance. He waved a nurse over. "Narcissa, go get a cup of tea with Henrietta. Draco will get your bags."
The woman nodded and left with the nurse. Healer Cantermitt turned back to them. "You have one more shot. I'm going to go finish filling out the paperwork. Is there anyone I need to contact?"
"Please owl Theodore Nott and have him come to pick up her things and take them home and wait for us," Draco told him. The healer nodded and walked away. He turned his focus back to his annoyed company. "She's going to ask again and I need you to go with it, Granger. Please. I'll work extra hard. Six days a week even but not late since mother is coming home."
"What do you mean go with it? What did Cantermitt mean you, probably collectively us, have one more shot? What is wrong with your mother?" She questioned.
Draco sighed. "Look, the details of my mother's condition is none of your business. All you need to know is that she has been here for almost six years, has a memory problem, and that 'tea' is really a potion that'll make her forget what just happened because it was too stressful for her. That little tantrum before the nurse took her away? Pretty much a warning that she was about to shut down. I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend for like the next two hours. We'll take her to lunch at that place you were talking about and then you shall escort us to my home. From there you will leave and tomorrow we will be boss and secretary again.
"She won't remember you as my girlfriend. It's not possible to my knowledge with this potion we give her unless her mind is turning around or she has too much. It is designed for her to forget certain aspects of a time. All I ask is that you pretend for the next two hours or so and give me the rest of the day off so she can adjust. Please," Draco explained and begged her.
She smirked. "Is it bad part of me loves hearing you beg?" She paused for a moment to think.
Narcissa reappeared with nurse Henrietta. "Draco! Are you here to pick me up?"
"Yes mother."
Narcissa smiled and looked at Granger. "Draco, who is this?" Her eyes widened. "Is she your girlfriend? You never told me you had a special lady in your life during your visits."
Draco glanced over at Granger. "This is—"
"Hermione Granger," She shook Narcissa's hand. "I am your son's girlfriend."
Narcissa cheered. "Oh wonderful! Draco is such a lonely guy. He only has Theo and Blaise. Too much masculinity will do horrors to the mind. He needs a more feminine side. I hope you've helped him with his emotions."
"Mother!"
Granger chuckled. "He still needs a little work. We want to take you to lunch before taking you home. A new place has opened in Diagon Alley," She explained.
Narcissa nodded. "That sounds wonderful. How are my bags getting home?"
"Theo is coming by to take them hope," Draco piped up.
Healer Cantermitt came back. "You are all set to go, Mrs. Malfoy. Your son just needs to sign this and you are free to go."
She nodded as Draco signed. "Why is Theo getting my bags? I do love the boy but he is not our servant."
"Do call him our servant to his face," Draco chuckled. "It will be funny. Theo actually lives with me...us. Serving is a form of his rent."
Narcissa chuckled. "Of course. Bet your father isn't too fond of that though. Always thought of him as more of a pet. You'll love the Manor, Hermione. It is a beautiful home."
Granger paled at the memories she had of the place. "We don't live at the Manor anymore, mother. We moved to the house near the Channel a couple hours from London before you came here, and father is in Azkaban," Draco repeated for the second time.
"Oh," Narcissa said sadly.
"Don't look down, Narcissa. This is a good day," Granger reassured her as they approached the floo.
Narcissa smiled. "It is. I can finally leave this place and I find out my son has a girlfriend. We must celebrate!"