Disclaimer: I don't own anything. However, I'd love to meet J.K. Rowling someday.
Author's note: It was written for the Unexpected Occupation Challenge by xxjonibaby.
He closed his leather journal and looked at the woman behind the desk. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Deets isn't here today but his student is here and able to see you if you like," She said looking at her notes.
"So long as I'm seen today, Margaret. With the amount of money I'm paying for a therapist I think I should be first." Glaring at the woman next to him who arrived in the office a few moments before and is already on her way in. "But, under the circumstances I guess I will have to wait." He was angry and Margaret could tell.
"Mr. Baits is her therapist and is ready for her now. However, Mr. Deet's understudy will be coming back from lunch shortly," she said sweetly as she welcomed the woman in. He grabbed a magazine from the nearby table and started thumbing through the pages not really paying attention to them. Someone entered the office and walked past him. He sniffed the air. Her scent smelled of old books and spinach. He had recognized that sent before but couldn't place his finger on it.
"No calls please Margaret. I need a few minutes to refresh myself before I can take any on," she said.
"Oh but your three o'clock is already here. And he said it's urgent he speaks to someone," She pointed a finger when Draco wasn't looking. His eyes faced the magazine as he pretended not to listen in. He could feel the eyes looking at him and wished they'd stop. Women always stared at him whenever he was in the room. He knew he should be use to it, but hated being eye candy.
"Well tell him I'll see him shortly," she said rushing to her office on the left side.
"She'll see you-" Margaret started to say.
"I heard the woman. I'm not deaf, mind you," Draco snapped for he was already irritated with himself and the fact that his therapist couldn't see him today. Where was that slimy oaf anyways? As much as Draco paid him you'd think that he would be available at Draco's timing.
"She's ready for you now," Margaret said. "No late fees," she added.
"There better not be. I was on time. It's not my fault if she wasn't," Draco said tossing the magazine down on the table. Draco barged open the door making it bang against the wall. Her back was turned against him. Staring into her pensieve she didn't budge to turn around.
"Slamming the door like that was not necessary Mr. Malfoy," she said.
"I would have hoped for you to finish with your thoughts before I arrived. You're a sexy little thing aren't you?" Draco's snide remark made her flinch. He did not like this new doctor. She pulled her straight hair back into a pony tail and turned around. His face opened wide and so did hers.
"I'm out of here!" Draco made a move towards the door and put his hand on the door. He couldn't believe he just hit on Granger! Of all people. She looked nothing like she did at school.
" You will not talk about me like that. I'm not too happy about it either, hence the pensieve, but seeing how I am a professional I will be of your assistance today. And Ronald has informed me that if I want this job, then I better take you on,"
"Granger, I'm in no mood to pay a Mudblood to listen to me today," Draco snapped.
"Let's just leave that school-aged name out for now ok? I haven't heard that name since school," Hermione snapped back.
"Ah yes, I forgot you married Weasel," Draco pushed his platinum blond hair out of his face.
"Who I have married is none of your concern," Hermione gritted. Draco could tell he touched a nerve. "Are we going to get started? You have 58 minutes left," she said sitting in front of the golden couch.
"This is a messed up place," Draco said as he lay on the couch facing Hermione.
"Well, it is where you chose to come,"
She looked different he noted. He glared at her for a moment. "Well woman? Aren't you going start off where I left off?" He demanded making Hermione blush.
"Seeing how we are both civilized people I would want you to not talk to me in that tone of voice," she said.
"Sorry," he muttered. "I feel odd telling you my problems. I fear that you would go off and tell famous Potter and Weasel," Draco confessed.
"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you can not make yourself as you wish to be," Hermione said
"What does that mean and what brought that up?"
"It means you cannot change people no matter how hard you try. So no matter how much you don't like my being a Mudblood I cannot change what I am. Or if an oaf of a husband gambles all the money away to the point where I have to have a secret account then I can't change him," She said.
Ahhh so that's what's going on. Old Ronniekins turned into a gambler.
"Should I be the one in the chair and you on the couch?"
"Haha, no I'm fine. Just problems at home," Hermione laughed.
Draco wondered when the last time she laughed was.
"I hate my father and hope he will change, but even after the war he doesn't change," Draco confessed.
"I know you hate him," she said
"How? It's not like I talk to you on a normal basis,"
"I can tell when you mention him. You get scared."
"It's not like I wanted to become a death eater in the first place," he admitted.
"So you did become one. I knew it," she said crossing her legs.
"Don't act all surprised I know you all figured it out." Draco absently put his hand over his left arm. Hermione assumed that was where the mark went.
"Even though he's gone, I can't get rid of the damn thing. Why do you think I wear suits all the time?" He pulled up the sleeve and showed it to her. I can't wear a damn t-shirt without getting looks. I only wear it in the muggle world and people think it's just a cool tattoo," They were finally getting to the meaning of this
"So you didn't really want to become a death eater?"
"Hell no. My parents forced me," He gritted his teeth. "I need to take an emotional breath, step back, and remind myself who's actually in charge of my life."
"I was going to suggest going on a vacation and seeing only yourself. Go to a cabin in the woods or a island somewhere or off to Ireland. You need to learn who Draco is before you can make any more decisions," Hermione said.
"You know something Granger, you're really good at this therapist stuff," He said, clutching his journal
"I take that as a compliment," she smiled at him.
"It was meant as one," He grinned. "Granger,"
"What else do you want to talk about Draco? You have twenty minutes left," Hermione said pointing to the hour glass on her desk.
"Before the war. When you were held captive and tortured," He saw Hermione flinch and shed a few tears. "I know that is a tough spot for you, but I feel like I have to say this. To cleanse some wounds so to speak,"
"I have moved on, however, it still hurts and I still have nightmares about your house,"
"And since my mother died, my father doesn't live there any more so I changed it completely. I took out the dungeons and everything that reminded me of what they did to you," Draco sat up from the couch and placed his hands in between his lap. His journal lay beside him. "Hermione, I'm sorry I didn't stand up for you or anyone else, but to especially you," he said quickly.
"What?"
"Let me finish," He said placing his palm in the air to calm her down. When he saw she wouldn't interrupt him he put his hand down.
"I couldn't defend you. They threatened to kill my mum. I hate my dad, but I love my mum. They said if I interfered with any 'traitor' they bring to the house no matter who it was they would torture and kill her on the spot. I couldn't let that happen," Draco said.
"Okay," was all she could manage. She put her hand to her forehead. He knew she was remembering everything that happened to her in the house.
"I'm serious Granger, I would have done something if my mum's life wasn't at stake,"
She started crying . "Shit, Hermione, I didn't mean to make you cry. I just wanted to right a wrong," He said getting to his feet. He knelt down in front of her.
"Oh Draco, look at me, I'm on your time, in fact I'm over your time. I'll only charge you for half the hour," She said staring into his grey eyes. They were no longer cold. Instead they were full of heartbreak and sadness.
"Hermione, I am so sorry," he took her hand and held it close to him. Hermione suddenly jerked her hand away from him and stood up. She walked to her desk, opened the drawer and got out a spare piece of parchment. She scribbled something on it and handed it to Draco.
"What's this?"
"The location of my parents' cabin in the mountains,"
"Why would I want a muggle vacation home?"
She glared at him.
"Sorry, old habits die hard," he said chagrined.
"Because an escape from the wizard world is just what you need. I'm prescribing you a few weeks stay at my parents' house to clear your mind. Go any time you like. They hardly use it anymore during the fall. Fall's the perfect season to go," Hermione said.
Author's note: That's the end of a chapter! A Cliff hanger! I may/may not continue this. If it seems like it's predictable, then my plan is working. It was written for the Unexpected Occupation Challenge by xxjonibaby.
