AN: This is my first Dramione/Harry Potter Fan fiction, although I've had this written for a while now... Anyways, please read and review, I'd love to know what you think!
I'm also not sure how long this will be yet, I've only written about ten chapters so far and it's not close to done so maybe thirty chapters? I'll try to have a regular uploading schedule but I do get busy so we'll see how this works out.
Enjoy the story! And sorry for the long AN!
Hermione took a deep breath in an effort to dispel the pink flush from her cheeks and the panting in her chest. She had misjudged the time, which had resulted in her sprinting to the building she now stood in front of. I should have apparated instead, She thought, shaking her head, but now was not a time to dwell on mistakes; she was late and needed to get inside. She adjusted her pink wool scarf and pushed open the door, cringing when a small bell sounded, alerting everyone inside to her presence. A quick glance showed her the reception desk in the front, with a hallway to the left and a dozen or so fabric covered chairs on the right, filled with patients, twiddling their thumbs as they waited for their name to be called. She padded across the carpeted floor to the desk where a black haired nurse sat looking at a piece of parchment, what seemed to be a permanent frown glued in place of her mouth. A tag on her shirt claimed that her name was Noreen.
"Hello, Um, I'm here for my appointment?" Hermione asked, twisting her fingers.
"Sign your name on the paper," not looking up, the lady motioned to the clipboard on the edge of the desk.
Hermione carefully removed her mittens, tucked them into her coat pocket, and using the pen clipped to the board, she signed her name and handed it to the receptionist
Noreen pursed her lips once she saw the name and looked at Hermione from atop her plastic framed glasses.
"You're late," she said coldly and Hermione shivered, finding that her voice reminded her of a certain potions professor.
"Sorry ma'am, I ran behind," she apologized.
"We do not tolerate tardiness miss, but I have orders to let you pass today," the lady replied, wrinkling her nose, as if letting her tardiness pass was a stinky matter.
"Thank you ma'am," Hermione sighed. She wanted to let the lady know that punctuality was one of her top priorities, but she felt, or rather knew, that Noreen would not appreciate being talked back to.
"Don't thank me, If I were fully in charge I would not have let you in even if it would save your life," the lady muttered and Hermione found her liking for her lessening with every breath she took.
"Anyways, Room 512; You might want to hurry, your nurse and partner are waiting,"
Hermione nodded and headed down the hallway, stopping at the eighth door, which was marked by a white plastic plaque, with 512 carved neatly into it. After taking a deep breath to compose herself, she knocked on the wooden door, which swung open almost immediately. A pale woman who could not have been older than 20, stood in front of her in a long doctors coat. Her chestnut hair was tied back in a loose bun and she smiled when she saw Hermione.
"You must be Hermione! You're a bit late but it's no problem, come on in!," She motioned inside and after giving her a timid smile, Hermione stepped into the overly bright room. A big chest of drawers stood to the left while the rest of the area was taken over by a rug, small table with a set of three chairs in the middle and an office desk in the corner, all white of course. A window on the opposite wall let in sunlight, which Hermione was sure was conjured with magic as there was not that much sun outdoors. A gasp escaped Hermione's lips as soon as she spotted her partner seated on one of the chairs, recognizing his platinum blonde hair instantly, and once he saw her, his already frowning expression turned sour. In seconds, Hermione was in front of Draco, who had stood up.
"You traitorous git!" She shouted, and she quickly found her fist pulled back, ready to punch. If it weren't for his equally quick movements of grabbing her fists, she might have given him a black eye.
"That's not how you greet people," he hissed at her.
"You don't deserve any type of freaking greeting!" She snarled back, "You're a traitor and your lucky Kingsley felt sorry enough for you to bail your ass out of Azkaban!"
"I didn't ask for your people to stick their noses into my business and get me out, I would have gladly stayed in there!" He seethed.
Hermione ripped her hand out of Draco's and was about to go for a slap this time, reminiscent of third year, when the nurse intervened. Her wand was out and she had frozen Hermione's hand.
""NO!" Hermione screamed, "LET ME HIT HIM! IT'S ALL HIS FAULT! THAT TRAITOROUS DEATH EATER GIT!"
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Draco roared, once she called him the name Voldemort had given to his followers.
"THAT'S ENOUGH," the nurse shouted, glaring at them, "Okay, I let you vent it out a bit because that is necessary in the beginning, but you two are going to be going through therapy together and so I expect you both to be respectful to each other! If this is going to work, you have to turn over a new page!" the nurse said, her bright attitude from earlier having dissipated.
"But he's the reason I even have to take therapy," Hermione scowled.
"And you think I voluntarily chose to come here?" Draco growled.
The nurse shook her head, silencing the banter, "I understand that it's going to be hard for you two to get along but we need to bury the past. This will be our first activity. I planned to start with an introduction but you two seemed to already do that part. Now, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, could you please take a seat?"
Draco winced but was compliant and quietly sat down in one of the wooden chairs around the table in the center. As the nurse flicked her wand, unfreezing Hermione's hand, Hermione could see that the war had changed him. He hadn't really insulted her so far, was much quieter in general, and was much more willing to follow directions from a teacher figure. But the scars were still fresh in Hermione's mind, and she was desperate to pin the blame on someone other than herself. So when she regained control of her hand, she contemplated trying to have another go at him but she was weary, and she knew the nurse would stop her in a heartbeat. With a sigh, she plopped down into a chair, glaring at her Slytherin peer.
"Okay. My name is Maya, and I'll be your therapist for the next ten weeks, depending on your progress, that could change to a shorter or longer amount of time. To start, I want each of you to let out all the bad feelings they have for the other person so we can start with a clean slate,"
Hermione frowned,"Why do I have to do my therapy with him? Whoever decided putting us in the same room was a good idea should be admitted to St. Mungo's,"
Maya sighed, "Partnering people up in therapy helps because you know someone else is going through a similar situation and you can talk about it with them. You and Draco have very similar reasons for therapy and since both of you experienced them during and after the war, it makes sense to pair you up. Also because..," she hesitated, " Never mind,"
"No, what is it?" Hermione persisted.
The nurse shook her head, "It's Nothing,"
Hermione wanted to press her more but Draco interrupted," Can we get this over with?"
Maya nodded,"Hermione, we'll start with you. I want you to tell Draco any bad feelings or situations you have from him,"
Draco pursed his lips as Hermione's glare pierced through him and muttered, "Here we go"
"Malfoy," she sneered," You're a prat. You don't deserve to be here, your ass should be rotting in azka-"
Maya interrupted,"Hermione we're not insulting here. Please refrain from phrases like that and do as I said,"
With another sour look at the blonde, Hermione started over, "Well this is going to be a long list. Hmmm. How about every single time you've made fun of me for being a muggleborn, called me a mudblood, called me out for being smarter than you, insulted my teeth and hair, tried to kill Dumbledore, fought on the death eaters side, LET THEM INTO HOGWARTS, you're the reason I had to do what I did, you're the reason they're no longer alive, why i'll never see them again.. IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Hermione was panting by the time she had finished. Her voice had risen with every word and the fury was back in her. Draco only wore a small frown as he watched her almost-tantrum. The nurse stood up and placed a hand on the brunette's shoulder, " Take a deep breath dear, you need it," she said quietly. But Hermione was blind with rage. Her rant had broken the dam she had built to stop the memories from dominating her mind, and now they were swamping her. The sight of Malfoy in front of her, Malfoy who was responsible for so much of this tragedy made her lunge across the table, this time landing a fist on his chest. Her victory was short lived though; Maya had her wand out and in seconds, Hermione's body turned stiff and turned onto the carpet. The nurse was struggling to keep her calm as she looked over Hermione's body.
"I. Will. Not. Tolerate. Any. More. Of. This." She said through gritted teeth, " I am calling someone in. This behavior is ridiculous,"
Hermione felt her eyes moistening. She did not normally act so violent, but the memories, oh the pain they brought; their pain can make a person crazy and she was a victim of this conundrum.
Suddenly, a knock sounded and the nurse opened it with a flick of her wand, staying put next to Hermione's immobilized body. Hermione would have gasped if she could've, for the person who entered was someone every Hogwarts student would rather not cross. Even though Hermione could say she was on the friendlier side with her, she really didn't want to disappoint her. It was the new Hogwarts headmistress, with her tight bun and stern expression, Professor Minerva McGonagall. But someone else walked in after her, and Hermione's jaw would have widened further, if possible, when the wizarding world celebrity, with his scar and round glasses entered as well.
"Hey Hermione," he smiled. After glancing at Draco, whose face was twisted in a scowl, and his best friend's frozen body, he let out a sigh.
"Hermione, I know it's hard seeing him," he gestured at the blonde, "but trust me if you calm down and at least try to get along with him it'll help so much in the future,"
Maya had undone the enchantment on Hermione and she now stood up and faced Harry.
"I appreciate that outlook into the future but I said this earlier and I'll say it again, me and that person won't get along. Putting us in the same room might as well be an invitation for us to start a duel. Whoever came up with this plan is definitely an idiot," she said, shaking her head.
Harry winced, already regretting what he was about to reveal, "Well, um, you might want to know that I suggested this plan…"