Chapter 2: "The Birds and the Bees"

Hermione felt unusually content the next morning. Suppose the elixir for better sleep did in fact work. She didn't quite remember what it was that she dreamt of but it must've been good since she herself felt good. She kicked the blanket off of her and headed toward the shower. And mighty good shower that was.

Feeling all refreshened and fully clothed she remembered she had yet a report to write. Although there wasn't really anything to report. He had given her no information what so ever. She could only speculate it had to be something rather horrendous. Since he's willing to die instead of spilling the beans. Thus she wrote some standard observatory lines. It had to do for yesterday, today she will put whole lot more effort into figuring out what it was that Draco Malfoy had gotten himself into. She opened the window, tied the letter around St. Mungo's private owl and off it went. Just about when she was closing the window a loud knock on the door was to be heard.

"Yes? Come in!"

Little Willow's little head popped up between the door frame. "Morning miss! Did you sleep well? Did you find the room satisfactory? Was the room temperature okay?" She makes herself into the room all the while asking questions, that obviously were somewhat rhetoric. "My miss, it's flaming hot in here! Were you cold?"

"Not at all. It simply felt a little colder than mister Malfoy's room after I left there so I altered the temperature a little. Speaking of, how is he this morning?"

"Oh, mister Malfoy feels always a little better after sleeping. He got up quite early. He's in the garden."

"Alright, I'll check up on him then. But first, can I ask you something Willow. Could you tell me what type of magick did mister Malfoy use to get in such condition?"

"I could not miss."

"Howcome?"

"Willow is not allowed. Willow made a promise and Willow cares about mister Malfoy and will not break a promise." Hermione thought this third person way of indicating oneself to be a defense, she appeared to be scared as well, nervously fluffing her already fluffy pillows was another indication.

"Willow, you know, telling me and me helping mister Malfoy get better is much more caring than that. He's dying, Willow."

"Miss, please… I cannot betray mister Malfoy."

"You're not betraying him. You'd be helping out a lot if you just told me."

"I'm sorry miss. That… I cannot do."

"Why? Did he force you to make an unbreakable vow?"

"Miss, Willow, and elves in general, don't need to do such things to be faithful."

"Willow, you could save his life."

"Oh miss," she burst into tears. "I-I-I... Willow cannot. I'm so sorry," sobbing she then fled her room leaving Hermione defeated. She was sure she could break the little elf and get it out of her, she just needed a better approach. Something maybe a major psychologist could do. It dawned upon her she knew one of those. She sent another owl, to one of the best on the field in that department - to Luna, asking her to join lunch. There was no time to lose.


She found Malfoy out in the pre-winter cold, in the garden (not to mention after being lost in the maze for 15 minutes), on a bench, reading a book.

"Morning Malfoy!" she greeted him.

"Drop it", he states calmly, his eyes never leaving the book.

"Drop what?"

"Willow told me about your little interrogation earlier. I prefer you wouldn't bully my elf. Hence, drop it." His gaze still fixed on the book.

"I wasn't bullying her!"

"Sure did seem like it. Why don't you pick somebody your own size."

"I wasn't."Hermione let out a deep sigh before she decided to explain further. "Malfoy, I'm trying to help you. I know she wants to help you."

"So you tried to use her helpful-little-elf nature on your own account of success? Mighty healery of you."

"It's my job! If the patient is clearly out of sorts or withholding information, it's what we healers do!" Hermione was surprised at her own words, she didn't need to explain herself to him. She wasn't sure what she was trying to accomplish here, tell him how healer code works?

"That's what she said," he replied carelessly.

How mature! Nonetheless she wasn't bothered, it is what it is, she did what she did, therefore she owned up to it.

Not rewarding his immaturity with a response she simply walked up to him and took a seat on the other end of the bench. Second time today, in short 30 minutes, Hermione felt defeated again.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"I suggest we go back to your room. It's way too cold for you to be outside. You could become hypothermic again. Shall we?" She made a gesture of reaching her hand for him to take. He didn't.

"I feel fine, Granger. I'm just…" he flipped the page of his book, "about done with… my book!" He closed the covers of the book and finally rose his eyes to look at Hermione. She thought him to look slightly better than yesterday.

"Bees?" she caught a glimpse of the cover of the book. Otherwise it was a simple design but the bees on it sure stood out.

"Yes," he put the book next to him on the bench.

"Is it about bee-keeping?"

"No," he chuckled almost invisibly.

"What's it about then?"

He seemed to sneer at her a little, but to Hermione's surprise answered her. "It's about this academic, that lived in 17th century, who comes to this rotten land where people are all starving and killing each other which supposedly makes him sick."

"And the bees come in where?"

"They don't really. It's more of a metaphor. He has this bird, Clodia that dies. After that he starts seeing this girl. Who's kind of a ghost and isn't either. Nobody doesn't know really if she's real or not. The guy does learn though that her name is Clodia as well."

"And the metaphoric bees are involved how?"

"If you want me to tell the story, you really need to..."

"Sorry, do go on."

"Anyway, the point is that, people are like beehives. There's whole bunch of bees inside of a person and they fly out and make marks on other things thus making you experience those marks, through your sensory abilities, and in that process, you become bigger and you evolve on account of your experiences. You go so beyond you almost think that there's nowhere to reach and yet, there's another day where you realize just how beyond could actually reach, it's endless. You can go into people, into things, anything for that matter."

Hermione was a little taken aback of what insight Malfoy had. He sure knew his literature.

"So, you think the guy went beyond the death of his bird and conjured a girl instead?"

"Could be. Or he just needed somebody significant and since the bird was everything he had, he imagined that he could love, even if it was imaginary for other people. Or maybe point blank he was dying and was just seeing things."

"I like the first interpretation better. Going such lengths so one conquers the laws of nature and is capable of experience love again. I like that. Never known a love like this, but the idea of it, sure is compelling."

He leaned back and lets out a deep sigh. He looked positively worn out again.

"It's time to get you back inside," she got back on her feet and held her hand out for him.

"Not yet," he closes his eyes. In that moment it started snowing. Hermione couldn't but think how universe picked this exact moment to pour itself at them, making the room clean with pure white snow. All what was left was the beautiful concept of nature-conquering-love she had discussed with none other than Draco Malfoy. How surreal can life get. However it was something people at their end experienced, life a little more deeply, in the moment and reflective.

She took her seat again. So they sat. There, in the snow. Hermione felt her own inner bees flying right into each snowflake that finally found its way down to the ground, knowing the bees will melt eventually and cease to exist.


Malfoy fell asleep as soon as they got back. He truly looked like a corpse. She took a seat next to his bed and looked outside of the window. It was still snowing, more heavy than before. She noticed the book Malfoy was reading earlier on the nightstand. She wasn't sure if he'd mind if she read it but since he was out like a log, she decided to go for it.

Hermione was quite surprised to learn it was most probably a muggle author since she hadn't heard of the writer, to top it off, it wasn't even in english. It had some strange letters and some familiar ones, words were nonetheless all foreign. And for that reason it made it all the more special and mystical. A story that special written in a language that most probably was as special. Hermione wasn't particularly a romantic person but the thought of it was engaging, words and stories beyond comprehension. She put the pretty book back on the nightstand. Looking outside she found herself to be somewhat compelled into thinking over and over again about the story of the academic, the bird, the ghost-lady and the bees.

After a little while her strain of thought was interrupted by a quiet knock on the door. She made her way to open Malfoy's bedroom door, only to see Luna on the receiving end. She was carefree and angelic as ever. Hermione stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

"Thank you for coming Luna."

"Of course," she glowed. "I'm happy to see you slept better tonight."

"I did," she assured. "Would you mind if we talked in my room?"

"Not at all."

She led Luna across the hallway.

"Wow, it's amazing! Really impressive! This bed must be super-comfy, Hermione!" she bounced gleefully on the baldachin.

"It is," Hermione trieed to brush off Luna's ardour.

"So how is mister Malfoy?"

"That's why I asked you here. I've gotten nowhere with the assignment. I'm not good at this therapeutic stuff, he's told me nothing. That's where you hopefully come in. Would you mind talking to him? If not him, then maybe his elf? I think she might be easier to crack."

"Hermione, I'm afraid people tell only when they want to tell."

"They do it more easy to you."

"Of course they don't. They do it just because they want to. Mister Malfoy won't tell me anything. Need I remind you, I spent a whole week with him?"

"Alright, what about his elf?"

"Sure, I can talk to her. Her name was Willa, Willow?"

"It's Willow."

"Willow," Luna shouts out. "Willow!"

"No, not here," Hermione whispered albeit then realized she was already late as Willow's little form puffed out of thin air.

"Yes, miss Luna," she greeted her politely and curtsied.

"How are you Willow?" Luna asked her and curtsied back.

"I'm good miss Luna! Just about ready with lunch. Hope you can stay!"

"I'd be delighted!"

"It makes me happy to hear that miss."

"Hey Willow, is there anything you might want to share with me and Hermione?"

"Like what?" she appeared innocent but Hermione was sure she already feeled ganged up on.

"Who are the people who are after mister Malfoy?"

"Oh, I don't know if I should," she appeared sad.

"It's okay Willow, it's just that there were some rather nasty-looking people searching for him today at the hospital and we really need to know who they are in order to protect him." Hermione wasn't sure if that was the truth or not. If it was, then she wasn't sure why wasn't she informed.

"Oh dear Merlin! That cannot happen! Yes, of course miss Luna. I don't know who they are, not really. Mister Malfoy told Willow that they were connected to he-who-must-not-be-named and they want something mister Malfoy doesn't have and when they get to know that, they will do much more bad to him and everybody else."

"They must be some previous Death Eaters!" Hermione startled even herself how loudly it came out of her mouth.

Luna turns back to Willow. "Do you think they might be Death Eaters?"

"Yes, I think so," she nodded her head frantic. "Will miss Luna and miss Hermione keep mister Malfoy away from harm?"

"We will, Willow," Luna assured her.

"Thank you for telling me miss Luna!" she was visibly on the verge of tears. "I'll…" she hiccups, "get…" hiccups "the lunch…" another hiccup, "now… In the dining room."

"Thank you very much Willow!" Luna said compassionately.

Willow gave them a sad but thankful smile before she puffed away again.

"Is it true what you just told?" Hermione confronted her friend right away.

"Of course it is."

"How come nobody told me?"

"I did."

"Maybe a little sooner would've been better, don't you think? He needs protection."

"He is protected, there's protective enchantments guarding the building as well an auror."

"An auror? As in one?"

"Yes, well. It turns out they get rather sour when it comes to guarding a Malfoy. But I find it to be better than nothing!"

"Right."

"Hermione, don't worry, he's safe considering how much time he has."

"Alright. I know it's outstanding under the circumstances, but alright. Would you like to fill me in with some details?"

"Well, nobody noticed anything strange about them when they arrived. I suppose they managed to get into Malfoy's old room and took something he left behind. The burglary alarm went off when they passed Hector. He confronted them and called for security. They attacked him and he was hurt pretty bad. But fortunately aurors got there in time to catch them. They're in questioning as we speak."

"I need you to keep me up to date. No delays."

"Of course."

"So, what did they take?"

"I don't know yet. The investigation is on and they can't reveal anything just yet. But Neville promised me he'll give us the most prominent information as soon as he reaches somewhere."

"Neville is the auror that took on Malfoy's case?"

"Of course. He's great like that isn't he!" She bloomed. Neville and Luna had been together ever since the war ended. A true powercouple. "Harry offered himself aswell," Luna continued, "hearing you're working on the case, but they denied it since he's on troll-invasion duty in Germany."

"Oh," Hermione felt a little uneasy at the mention of Harry. "Well, it's sure is big of Neville. Defending Bellatrix's niece is something that everyone would've understood that he wouldn't want to do that."

"Oh, Neville understands the difference between Bellatrix and Draco as well as not to mix personal feelings with job. Besides, vengeance throughout generations is way too 16th century."

"Thank him for me will you?"

"Sure. Shall we then? My stomach is positively growling."

"Yes, of course. I'll get Malfoy and assist him to the dining room. Make yourself comfortable, it's at the end of the hallway to your right."

"Super-duper!" she hopped off toward the hallway.

As Hermione entered Malfoy's room she found him to be still sound asleep. She didn't want to quite yet wake him up but he needed to eat and routine like food is something of high importance to people who need to save up as much energy as they can.

She approached Malfoy's bed and carefully placed her hand on his forehead to feel his body temperature. He was unbelievably warm albeit his skin color had turned into even more gray. And even though the room was blazing hot, there was no blush to his cheeks. She felt some of his muscles twitch at her touch and to her surprise he placed his other hand softly on hers. She didn't pull away, just hoped it gave the dying man some comfort. It was the most healery thing she could do all the while wondering if she could go beyond into his thoughts releasing her bees and discover whatever it was he hid. She thought of using legilimenncy on him but that would be risky, besides St. Mungo prohibited violating people's privacy like that.

They stayed like this for a few lengthy seconds when Hermione decided the other people in the dining room have waited long enough.

"Malfoy, it's time for lunch." She said it quietly to not startle him.

He disn't answer first. He didn't say anything even when he releases her hand and rolled over to the other side of the bed and laborously got out of the bed. Hermione stood silent while he put on a sweater not giving Hermione one glance. He was almost in the middle of the room when he all of a sudden turned around and looked a little perplexed.

"How long have you been here?"

"Two minutes I believe," Hermione walked next to him.

"Were you holding my hand?" he frowned.

"I was," Hermione kept her posture and confidence at bay, she didn't need to feel strange for offering comfort to a patient.

"You know some people would consider it harassment and abusing your power."

"To be clear I was feeling your temperature, it was you who was holding my hand, should I report Ministry the inexplicable harassment you commited towards your healer?" Hermione shot back.

"No need to get all defensive."

"You started it!" Hermione felt like she was acting like a child.

"No, kiddo, you did," he smirked and added childish dimensioon which was truly enough to her bucket of tolerance.

"First of all, I detest how you refer me as I'm some toddler, second of all, if you're so glued to the blood-supremacy, do feel free to hire a healer whose hands and blood aren't harassing to your highness!" Hermione was bloody fuming, she needed a second to breathe. "And… and for third…" Is there a third? She wasn't sure where she was going with it, only thing she was sure that she wasn't done scolding him. She needed a third and she needed it badly, her mind boggled.

Draco Malfoy however didn't look like he was about give her a third, he turned towards her and was intimidatingly towering over her. "Bravo Granger, you profiled me with such accuracy. Call me impressed. And that third, from the sound of it, it does sound juicy. Your mind must be exploding right now. Want to give it a go?" He dared her.

"I don't think I'm going to give you that satisfaction," she fired back and mentally congratulated herself.

"Oh, please do, fill me in with this intense delight of the third." This dialogue was going to a strange direction.

"Ugh… I'm so not going to do this with you," she gestures the space between them as a battle ground. "People are waiting."

"People as in plural?"

"Yes, healer Luna Lovegood is joining the lunch."

"Why?"

""Why mister Malfoy, it's an intervention. Come now! It's going to be a hoot!" She didn't hear his comments, she was already out the door and almost skipping towards the dining room. She did however hear him following.


The lunch was normal as it could be. The food wasn't anything pretentious like the last night and Luna added a spoonful of ease in the air. Willow and her best friend were holding up the conversation about neutral nothings. Hermione didn't notice if Malfoy had taken her threat seriously that it was going to be an intervention. He didn't show any signs of being alert. He actually looked a little more livid and well-rested. Hermione felt stupid though, she should've confronted him about the people who were after him not draw herself into a ill-timed and ill-formed spat that served no purpose what so ever.

After the lunch, they all saw Malfoy back to his room. He politely bid farewell to Luna and disappeared. Luna hurried back to St. Mungo promising Hermione to inform her with anything she could. Hermione then retired back to his room.

"You're such a bluff," he said teasingly while taking a seat behind his drawer.

"What do you mean?"

"Or this intervention was the utmost poorly constructed one even ever."

"Oh, that. It might've been a little poorly built yes. Another time then." They fell silent. Molfoy was reading something, Hermione all the while thinking of how to break the news of death eaters looking for him. Just do it! "Malfoy, there were some people at St. Mungo. They were looking for you and took one of your things that you apparently had left behind."

He froze on the chair. "What?"

"Do you have any idea who those men were?"

"No. What did they take?"

"I have no idea. They caught them though. They're in questioning now. Neville will come here later in the evening to ask you some questions as well. He'll have the much needed information by then hopefully. Don't worry, there are protective enchantments around the manor and needed be also auror protection."

"Yes. Thanks! I request now you to leave to your room. I want to be left alone."

"You're safe here."

"Thank you Granger." He motioned for her to leave. Hermione sighed at his reluctance to communicate and was about to make her way towards the door. However, she felt like not obeying. She need to do her job. "Hey! Do you think you're brave?"

"What?"

"Not telling me anything and being all secretive, do you think you're being brave? Cause if you're on that, you're so on the wrong. You're being a coward!"

"Is that right?"

"Who were the people looking for you Malfoy?"

"Leave!"

"I think you're protecting someone! Are you protecting someone?"

Malfoy didn't answer. One could cut the tension with a knife.

"Tell me!" Hermione wasn't ready to let it go. She realised right then he was in fact protecting something or somebody.

"Get the fuck out of my room!"

"No! I'm staying right here! Tell me! I'm on your side! We can protect them and you!"

"You're fired Granger!"

Hermione gasped. "Are you serious?"

"Do I need to repeat myself? You're useless! Plan your wedding, have arrow-scarred babies and be at least good at something!"

"Fuck you!"

"Have a good life kid!"

"Malfoy…"

"We're finished here," he remained resolute. Seeing Hermione didn't make any motion to leave, he stood up and walked past her towards the door. He held it open for her. "Leave!"

"You're being downright stupid. If there's other people's lives at stake then you're being downright stupid if you think you can protect them at this state!" She spoke calmly as she turned around to face him.

"You're in no position," his face warning. "Now, if you could just…"

"I'm going," she cut him off. "But if that is the case, I expect you to reconsider." She left him with that. Sincerely hoping he would change his mind. Having death eaters once more roaming around and having unknown motives made her feel uneasy, having more than one innocent person targeted by them made her furious. And she beat herself up for not being subtle enough with Malfoy. But there was nothing she could do anymore. Admitting to defeat, she gathered her things and departed.


A/N: I'm not the most diligent updater, surely not. Might just change when a review pops up every now and then, but oh well… I'm doing it for myself mostly "she keeps lying to herself and others" because it would be all kinds of Dramonie all the way and as little side-characters as I can muster, they just flew into the story to make it more voluminous and interesting for you. It's a hassle though. I fear the story spirals out of my hand at every moment. Too much details since I don't want to get too much stuck into trivial stuff and over-explain everything which is probably my weakest characteristical side.

The story is warming up slowly. As much as I enjoy writing dialogues going on back and forth between our hero and heroin, I really try to hold myself back, not to give away too much or make them look like they're not the characters we're used to. They are, it's just how it is at this moment. Don't worry, they will bounce back a little, to their old selves. Oh, and the narrator will dive into Draco Malfoy as well, it's not going to be like the narrator favors Hérmione's thoughts, it's just convenient at the present.

Anyway, you find a book reference in the story. It's not translated into english, yet at least. It's an Estonian book. One really really good Estonian book at that. Love it and hopefully you find the summary of it interesting as well.

I'm sure there might be mistakes. I'm really in need of an editor. =_=