Leaky Cauldron
Saturday 31st May 2003
Stumbling across the street, she crouched down to where Draco lay on the ground bleeding. "Fuck, Fuck, Fuck" she muttered as she helped him up.
"DEATH EATER SCUM" the hooded figure shouted, clearly deciding to come back for another go at the broken mass in the gutter.
"EXPELIAMUS!" she cried, seizing his wand, flashing her MLE badge that she had stuffed into her pocket as she left the flat moments before. The man turned on his heel and fled in the direction of Knockturn Alley and Hermione cast her patronus, sending it to the Ministry to summon aurors to pursue him.
She crouched down and helped a whimpering Draco to his feet, wrapping her arm around his waist as she hefted his arm over her shoulder.
"What am I going to do with you?" she whispered softly.
"Take me home like a stray puppy and love me?" he murmured in her ear.
"Great! Not even sober" she muttered as she pulled him into the building.
Flat 6A Diagon Alley
Saturday 31st May 2003
He hissed through gritted teeth as she pressed the damp washcloth to his face, mopping up the now dried blood. He watched her as she rinsed the cloth in the bowl of warm water as she knelt beside him. He cupped her cheek and she looked at him for a brief moment, neither of them saying a word.
"Sorry" she whispered and he looked at her confused "Episkey" she muttered, her hand touching her wand.
"FUCK" he yelled in shock and pain as she fixed his broken nose. She smiled at him sheepishly.
"Why do you always take care of me?" he whispered, brushing a stray curl away from her eyes.
"Because we are friends" she smiled "and besides, your flatmates are bloody useless."
He smiled back at her "Got that right" he sighed "My head feels fuzzy" he told her screwing up his features.
"That would be the Firewhiskey and concussion" she told him gently, nudging him to lay down on the couch. Grabbing the blanket from the closet, she draped it over him. She stared down at him for a moment unsure what to do. Then she grabbed another blanket and settled down on the chair across from the couch, closing her eyes.
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Eyes flickering open she looked around in confusion. This was not her flat. It took her a moment to realise she was in the boy's flat, and another to remember why she was there. Glancing over at the couch she worriedly realised Draco was not there and jumped up. Then she heard the noise that had woken her and rushed into the bathroom, finding Draco retching over the bowl. Quietly she grabbed a washcloth and dampened it under the cold tap before placing it on the back of his neck, rubbing small circles with the palm of her hand over his back as he heaved. He slumped down onto the floor, pressing his face to the cool tiles and closed his eyes as she stroked his hair, whispering soft and soothing words of comfort.
.
"You need to get up off the floor" she gently told him, coaxing him up and helping him to the couch.
"My head feels awful" he told her, rubbing his temples as he lay down. Hermione lifted his head, and slipped down onto the couch before placing his head in her lap. He closed his eyes as she massaged his scalp and forehead.
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"Morning Granger, enjoy your sleepover?" Blaise greeted her with an impish smile as he let himself in.
"Where were you last night while Draco was getting his head caved in?" she hissed, trying not to wake the still sleeping Malfoy.
Blaise visibly paled. "What?" he whispered, eyes wide with shock.
"Tom threw him out just before closing and some arsehole decided it would be a good idea to start on the passed out man in the gutter unable to defend himself. I got woken at 2am by the sound of him getting beaten up. The wanker took off in the direction of Knockturn Alley. I sent my patronus to the office. The graveyard shift picked him up around 3 while I was playing Florence Nightingale to pukey here" she explained, gesturing to Draco.
"Florence who?" Blaise asked, confusion etched on his features.
"Muggle reference, never mind" she waved him off "But seriously, that's what you took from that?" she hissed, glaring at him. "Why is it you are never here on a Friday night and it's always me who has to pick up the pieces?"
MLE Office of Hermione Granger, Deputy Head of Department
Monday 2nd June 2003
She sat reading the report from Saturday morning as she heard the soft knock at the door. Not looking up from the paperwork she called to her secretary, Suzy, to enter.
"These came for you Ma'am" Suzy informed her as she entered the office.
Hermione looked up confused, before seeing the bouquet of pale pink roses that Suzy placed on her desk. Pulling them closer, she noticed a handmade tag tied with ribbon to the stems.
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"Rosa Ausrumba : 'Gentle Hermione'"
Sorry about Friday night, thank you for taking care of me.
DM
She brought the bouquet to her nose breathing in the heady scent, smiling.
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Malfoy Industries, Office of Draco Malfoy
Friday 6th June 2003
Tucking his files into his briefcase, he checked his wristwatch and let out a heavy sigh. A knock at the door pulled him from his reverie.
"Yes?" he called, frowning as his secretary popped her head round the door.
"You have a visitor Mr Malfoy" she smiled.
"Thanks Claire, I'm just heading off home, they can walk me down to the lobby" he told her, coming to the door. Claire stepped back to let him past with a smile and he glanced over to the couch in the ante office his secretary occupied. He did a double take as he locked his office door.
"Hello Granger" he greeted her a little perplexed by her presence.
Hermione stood smiling. "I thought maybe this week I'd come for a drink with you" she told him as they made their way out into the oak panelled hallway.
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