disclaimer: sadly, i don't own draco hot stuff malfoy


Chapter 1: Crooked

Draco Malfoy awoke with a sputtering gasp and a wave of pain.

Then, his hands weakly tried to reach around for his wand. Damn! Those bastards- where are they? He frantically thought, his hands still moving around on the sheets. Then, with a sudden realization, Draco froze. He touched the smooth sheets again, and struggled to adjust his eyes to the unwelcome bright light that seemed to engulf him.

Salazar's little fucker, am I actually dead?

Draco blinked once- then twice- and finally saw something other than a maddening blur.

There were things stuck to his arm, and a small rail was on both sides of the bed he was on. Draco clutched the sheets tightly and saw that he was wearing a thin hospital gown, and that there was some sort of monitor right beside him. Draco looked around once more and found two sofas in the room- one on his left and another on his right- and he studied the drapes that provided as the window curtain. He clearly was not back at the forest… So where was he?

Draco struggled to rack his brain with all the supreme knowledge he had and…

"St. Mungos," he gasped out hoarsely, finally grasping the idea of him being stuck at the hospital.

What happened?

Draco tried to sit up, but gave up when his back started to ache. He also had this urge to gulp down gallons and gallons of some cool water. With a groan, he realized that he wasn't going anywhere soon. But he needed to see for himself- he needed to know who those bastards who killed his parents were. He needed to know. If he just wasn't careless, he could've pulled off that bloody mask to see who was behind it. He should've known there would be back-up. Draco cursed himself for being a fool.

He frantically looked around for his wand, but found that it wasn't in the room at all. Draco mumbled a string of profanity.

The monitor beside him ran smoothly, and he knew that it would alert all the Healers anytime now.

He just knew he had to escape.

Wincing, Draco bit his lip as he struggled to sit up on the bed. When he finally managed, he stretched out, biting back shouts of pain. He tugged on the lines and wires taped to his arm until it was detached, and placed both feet on the ground. Working quickly, he staggered to the drapery and noticed, with alarm, that the monitor had indeed gone off and was now emitting a strange noise. Draco can just hear the rush of footsteps coming towards his room.

Oh great, Draco thought bitterly, pushing the drapes aside so he can have access to the window. Pushing it open quickly, he heaved his right leg out of it, not bothering to look down. There was another window just right next to his, so he can easily jump towards it. Of course, it doesn't matter that he was way up the ground- Draco found that he actually wasn't thinking straight anymore.

"What the blazes?" Draco heard someone cry out. He froze. Damn, I wasn't fast enough.

Standing right in front of the door was a dishevelled Harry Potter, with his famous scar and all, looking amused and confused at the same time. He had his wand at the ready, pointed at Draco, and just right behind him were a few Healers and that redhead girlfriend of his. Suddenly, the Healers made way for a new spectator.

"What happened? Why-"

The person paused. Draco internally grumbled when he found out who the voice belonged to. His eyes roamed over her body, and then he looked at the ground outside the window again, his body still frozen in place.

"Well, I see that Sleeping Beauty is awake," Hermione joked, and Draco fought the urge to smack her with a broom.

Without much of a thought, Draco replied, "I don't see how that's funny," he sneered. His voice came out all scratchy and hoarse, and Draco's throat burned.

"What's funny is," Hermione retorted, her hands on her waist, "The sight of you trying to get out through the window in that poor excuse for clothing you have on."

Draco grunted and placed his right foot back on the floor. He looked down at the thin cloth he was wearing. "Well, I didn't have much of a choice now, did I?" He answered. "I woke up in this. It's not like I can actually magically dress better especially since I don't have my wand. I wonder where it is- oh, I know- it's stuck up your ass."

"You should know-"

Harry cut her off. "Will both of you just shut up?" He turned to Hermione. "Hermione, you should know that Mr Malfoy is still under the care of St. Mungos and has just woken up- you were the one telling me not to do anything rash."

Draco smirked. "Sounds like the hypocrite Granger I know."

Hermione sent him a dirty glare. "I liked it better when you were comatose and silent."

There was a little peculiar sound that came from the redhead. She faced Hermione and heaved a sigh. Taking both Hermione's shoulders, she steered Hermione out of the room. Draco can just hear Hermione yelling out her protests.

"Thank you, Gin," he heard Harry mutter. Draco just stood there, looking like he'd rather be someplace else.

He smirked at Harry and the rest of the Healers, who were now trying to get him back on his bed. He pushed them off easily, even with his weak body- that was, until, one Healer managed to place a spell on him, causing Draco to fumble and lose his balance. He grabbed hold of the rail at the edge of his bed and tightened his grip as he slowly began to close his eyes.

"Is this how you treat other recovering patients?" He managed to breathe out in a hoarse laugh as his eyes closed and he dropped to the floor in a pile.

Watching as the frantic Healers placed him back on his bed, Harry shook his head. "Only you, Malfoy. Only you."


...

"That… that imbecile!" Hermione seethed, chocolate brown eyes flaring. Ginny watched wearily as Hermione's knuckles turned white.

Hermione Granger was absolutely furious. She knew Malfoy would never be civil towards her, but she was hoping for some other outcome. It turns out that Malfoy was still an arrogant, pompous prat with a brain the size of a peanut. It didn't help that he still had that sneaky little smirk mastered and that he was wearing something rather inappropriate for wandering eyes.

Wandering single eyes.

"Out of all the days in this month, I choose this day to stay sober," Hermione groaned, placing her head in her hands. She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, trying to forget everything that happened back in the room. She ached to have a sip of wine- just a sip- to help her get out of this mess. She desperately needed a few happy thoughts to put her mind at ease. If she didn't get her fix now, Hermione was afraid she'd have to stay cranky and irritable throughout the whole day.

"Hermione, you know how Malfoy is," Ginny tried to reason. She rubbed comforting circles on her friend's back. "He's just worked up. Probably just wanted to get away and get his wand back."

Hermione took a seat outside his room and snorted. She placed both hands on her lap. "He'll have a hard time getting his wand back because apparently, it's now stuck in my ass."

Ginny almost rolled her eyes, but decided against it. She took the seat next to Hermione's.

"He was just kidding."

"Really, now, Gin? You sound like my mum when she tells me that the boys who tease me are the ones who secretly like me the most."

"Okay," said Ginny. "That's a ton of bull. But you have to admit," Ginny paused for a dramatic effect and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, "Draco Malfoy is one hunk of a man."

Hermione wanted to agree but she also wanted to throw up. Her fingers itched to touch a bottle of Firewhisky, just to feel it in her hands. She needed to gulp it all down, just to feel the burn of it in her throat. She needed to forget all that Ginny has told her, just so she can sleep in peace. Hermione took one look at the grinning redhead and almost slapped her in the face. Ginny Weasley was always one to be blunt- be it a trait from her incorrigible brothers – but it never seemed to be much of a problem to Hermione until now. She had definitely made Hermione think of Malfoy's gait, the toned muscles in his arms, the god-like legs.

Groaning, Hermione placed her head in her hands once again. She desperately needed some Ogden's Old Firewhisky, and no one (especially Ginny Weasley) can stop her.

But Malfoy certainly is a handsome young fellow, the single woman inside Hermione told herself.

Hermione decided that she desperately needed that drink right now.

"Hermione?"

Hermione looked up and was instantly separated from her thoughts. "Harry?"

Harry Potter glanced at the distraught Hermione and gave a rather heavy sigh. He obviously didn't think it would turn out to be like this. Hermione was usually compassionate and understanding, but Harry somewhat understood that old habits die hard. He was just surprised with how Malfoy was still Malfoy and how Hermione- who is now usually so out of character- acted like Hermione.

"'Don't be rash, Harry!'" mocked Harry, raising the pitch of his voice to match a female's. Hermione gave him a menacing glare that he chose to ignore. "Imagine if Ron were here to see this. He wouldn't be able to make up his mind. To hex Malfoy? Or to laugh at Hermione's state?"

Hermione crossed her arms across her chest and Ginny watched them both with amusement.

"A word to Ronald about this, and I will hex you," Hermione threatened, her fingers inching towards the pocket where her wand was. "Constant vigilance, you see, Harry."

"Glad to see Mad-Eye's little mantra is serving you well."

Ginny rolled her eyes and decided to speak up. She cleared her throat. "I do like how we're all just showering each other with sarcasm, but you all are forgetting why we're actually here."

Hermione had the decency to blush, her cheeks turning red quickly. "Yes, Ginny, I'm sorry," she apologized before turning to look at Harry. "Is Malfoy sane at the moment?"

Harry shook his head. "No," he answered, "The Healers had to knock him out."

"He didn't even drink any water yet!" Hermione said incredulously.

Ginny shook her head. "So now you actually care if Malfoy has a drink or not?" she muttered under her breath.

Hermione gave a sharp look. "I heard that," she said haughtily, her nose up in the air.

Ginny rolled her eyes. Turning to her fiancée, she asked, "When will Malfoy be up for some questioning?"

Harry took the seat beside Ginny and placed her hand in his. Hermione watched the scene unfold with a small smile, slightly jealous to see such beautiful affection. It hadn't been a surprise, of course. Harry and Ginny were just made to be.

"Let's give him an hour," said Harry.

Hermione nodded in return. "May I hex him in an hour?"

"'Don't be rash,'" Harry repeated, causing Ginny to break into giggles.

...


After an hour had passed, Hermione, with a Healer hot on her trail, walked into Draco Malfoy's room with a mission and a huge headache.

Hermione turned to face the skinny Healer. "What was your name again? Lisa?" Hermione asked, and she watched in amusement as Lisa the Healer's blue eyes went wide.

"Yes, Miss Granger."

Hermione took one look at Draco, who was still in an unconscious state, and tried to resist the urge to hurt him. She placed her hand on Lisa's shoulder. "Please wake him up now. And once he does come to, please leave us alone for a few minutes."

"Yes, Miss Granger."

Lisa moved towards Malfoy's bed and tapped his head with her wand. "Renervate."

Draco Malfoy suddenly awoke, gasping for air. His throat tightened and burned and he desperately wanted a drink of water. He looked beside him and found a mousey looking Healer with huge blue eyes. She had her wand at hand and looked like she was afraid to come even closer.

"Thank you, Lisa," a voice said from the doorway.

He turned to find the owner of the voice and found Granger standing there, with a plastic cup in her hands. Quickly, Lisa scurried away and out of the room, mumbling to Hermione. He saw Hermione give her a small nod. She closed the door behind her. Draco felt defenceless without his wand and his proper clothing. He wanted to take a stab at that Mudblood Granger.

Hermione did not come any closer. She studied Malfoy for a moment, taking in his aristocratic features and his haunting grey eyes.

"Are you going to hand me that cup of water or not?" said Draco.

Hermione frowned. "Why would you think this is a cup of water and not a cup full of poisonous liquid?"

"Because you wouldn't tell me that it could be a cup of poisonous liquid if that cup actually did have poisonous liquid in it."

Grudgingly, Hermione walked forward and gave the cup to Malfoy. With a small sigh, Draco took the cup from her hands and quickly gulped down the water that Hermione had offered. The flames dancing in his throat was now put out, and he gave another relieved sigh as he emptied the cup of its contents. Hermione watched, fascinated, at how quickly Draco finished all the water she had.

"Quenched?"

"Yes," Draco replied, without a word of thanks. He studied the woman before him before handing back the cup. He noticed how she still had the untamed hair and the fiery Gryffindor temper. She was still infuriating and frustrating but she did have a great body- lithe and tiny. Hermione took the cup from his hands. He decided to ask her a harmless question. "Who was that little Gryffindor redhead again? The Weasley girl?"

"Ginny," Hermione replied in slight surprise with the way Draco had asked her a question.

"She's Harry's girlfriend?"

"Actually, Harry proposed to her two weeks ago."

Draco smirked. "Pothead has a fiancée," he murmured to himself. He faced Hermione's surprised gaze. "How about you? Still a virginal little chit?"

Hermione felt the anger surge in her and clenched her hands tightly, ignoring the heat in her cheeks. Devil's spawn, she thought furiously, teeth gritting in rage. She forced herself to calm down and show a little more dignity, trying to relax her shoulders. No, Hermione Granger will never let Draco Malfoy have his way. She had pride in herself, just like the Gryffindor she was. That little ferret will never get to her.

Standing proud and tall, Hermione gave a tilt of her chin. "If you're asking me if I'm married, then no, I am not married. Nor am I dating anyone."

"No," said Draco, a crooked smile coming from his lips. "I'm asking you if you ever get shagged."

Hermione gave a loud gasp. "W-what?"

"You know, do you actually let men have their way with you or are you a fiery little-"

"Stop it, this instant!" Hermione cried. The palms of her hands covered her ears in an effort to block everything that Malfoy was saying. "I will hex you to oblivion, I swear it!"

"That's what all the fiery ones say," said Draco, clearly enjoying the turn of events.

Hermione instantly regretted giving him the cup of water. She shouldn't have tried to help this infuriating scoundrel. She should have told Harry to place him in with the Dementors, where Malfoy truly belonged. Hermione's cheeks were red with embarrassment, her knuckles white from the way she clenched them tightly. Chocolate brown met steel grey as she glared at him with obvious fury. Draco returned her gaze in an effort to challenge her.

"Oh great," said Harry, walking into the room, "You've had a heart-to-heart talk."

She swiftly spun around to clutch Harry's robes with trembling hands. "Please, Harry," she whispered, pleading with her eyes, "I take it all back. Let's bring him straight to the Dementors. Please."

Harry fought a laugh. "But you said he could be useful, Hermione," the wizard reasoned. "He's a smart guy. Remember? Hogwarts?"

"Stop using my words against me!" the frustrated witch cried out, removing her hands from Harry's robes. "Where's Ron? He'll definitely side along with me."

"What a fantastic reunion this is," the hospitalized blond drawled. "Anyone up for a quick photo?"

"You shut your mouth!" Hermione snapped at him, and Draco feigned a look of hurt. He sat up on his bed, giving her a look of contempt.

"Look," he growled, "I will not act like some obedient little kid. Don't try to tame me like I'm some sort of rabid animal. My parents were killed by Death Eaters, and I don't need this little game of yours, Granger. I want to find whoever killed them, and I need to get out of here."

The brunette felt nothing but resentment towards the blond. He made her wish that she was back at home, sobbing while drowning in bottles of Firewhisky and wine. She was thirsty- not for water- but for a quick drink, so she can just forget everything and be happy for once. Merlin knows how much she needed happiness, how much she needed a frequent getaway, how much she needed the quickest escape imaginable.

"We will get you out of here once you're checked by the Healers," Harry responded, "But I'm afraid you will have to come with us for a quick questioning and-"

"YOU BLOODY THINK I DID IT?" Draco bellowed, his jaw clenched. His eyes let out a look of disbelief.

"No." Harry replied; his voice calm yet firm. "Of course not, Malfoy. We just need to know what happened that's all."

"I don't need help finding them, Potter," he sneered, "If you forget, I'm basically one of them too."

Hermione and Harry were both rendered speechless.

Draco used this to his advantage and kept himself talking. "Death Eaters have marks. We have a way of calling each other- the slightest touch and everyone knows just where you are," he pulled up the sleeve of his hospital gown and showed them the permanent tattoo he had received from Voldemort. His hands glided along the edges of the tattoo, not touching it- but close. "You wouldn't dare bring them into all this, am I right? You wouldn't dare endanger the lives of many others in this hospital."

"Malfoy," said Harry, "We know you're not a part of it."

"Do you?" the blond challenged. "Are you really sure?"

Hermione looked at him, and he looked at her back with that little crooked smile of his.


A/N: Don't worry, Draco isn't some psycho killer- or is he? Have a good, dear laugh with me, please. Also, I think I should place an M rating for this one, there will be sexual innuendos and as you've already noticed, there will also be a whole lot of swearing and I don't think that actually lives up to the T rating.

Anyways- please read and review, I'd love to hear from all of you!