For any portion that is J.K. Rowling's, please don't sue. Thanks!

I had been in the internship a week, and I was certainly becoming more comfortable with my environment.

"Morning, Andrea," I called upon entering the building.

"Morning, Hermione," she returned, smiling.

"How are things?" I asked.

"Fairly well," she replied. "A bit of trouble with the bloke, but, you know..."

"Yeah, that'll happen." I smiled in sympathy and patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sure it'll all work out."

"Thanks," she responded. "Well, back to work." With that, she turned to her pile of parchments and began sorting through them.

I left her and went to my desk, where I found my usual list from Laylan. It contained nothing out of the ordinary, so I didn't pay it all that much attention.

I continued on to get the potions.

"Morning, Generva," I greeted the old woman as I passed.

"Morning," she replied. Then, "Hold on for just a minute."

"Yes?" I asked.

"Care to get an old woman a glass of water?" she requested, much more politely than last time.

"Of course," I replied, and handed her the glass as soon as I conjured it.

She shook her head in mild amusement and gave a little half smile. "I suppose you really can do something, then, can't you?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied. "I suppose I can." I smiled at the old woman and continued on my way.

By the time I readed Malfoy, I was already in a good mood.

"Morning Malfoy," I called as I approached him.

He gave me an odd sort of look and grumbled a "Morning" in response.

"Here," he muttered, and the potions appeared.

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

He gave me the same odd look and just nodded.

"Herminy!" I heard from across the hall as I walked.

"Good morning, Clarissa!" I said to the little girl. I peeked into her room, and she was again sitting straight up. "You're always so awake in the mornings," I commented.

"Well, you come in the mornings," she said sweetly. "And I like you."

I smiled quite possibly my widest smile of the morning and replied, "Well that's good, because I like you, too."

She beamed and motioned for me to come over for her morning hug. I couldn't remember which day we had started it, but it was certainly appreciated on mornings that weren't quite as bright as this one.

"You always give such good hugs," I said as we parted.

She giggled. "You always say that," she said.

"Well," I countered, "maybe that's because you always give them."

She giggled again. "So how are you?" she asked.

"I'm doing great this morning. You?"

"I'm just fine, thanks." She smiled. "You have my potion, right?"

"That I do." I handed it to her, and she took it wordlessly.

"Maybe it'll make me better someday, you think?" she asked, her eyes full of hope.

"It just might," I replied, sincerely hoping I was telling her the truth. In all honesty, though, I wasn't sure what it even did.

"They still have no idea what's wrong with me, you know," she said. It occurred to me that she said that phrase almost daily.

"I know, Sweetheart," I replied, my heart breaking just a bit. "I'm sure they'll know eventually."

"I hope so," she replied.

A moment of silence passed, and she looked at me curiously. "You're doing it again," she said.

"Doing what?" I asked.

"Giving me that sad look." She frowned. "Why are you always so sad?"

I sighed. "It's like I said before," I replied. "I'd just like to see you be somewhere better than here."

"But you're here," she said. "So it's good enough for me."

I just smiled in response.

"Well, it's probably time for you to see your other patients, isn't it?" She looked up at me with her wide eyes and smiled.

"I suppose it is," I replied.

"See you tomorrow," she said as I left.

"See you tomorrow."


"Good afternoon, Hermione," Gloria said as I sat next to her for lunch.

"Good afternoon," I replied. "How has your day been?"

"Fairly well, actually," she responded. "Handled a pretty nasty case of boils this morning, but aside from that, good."

I grimaced in response. "Well, at least that's been the only thing..." I replied.

She nodded and took a bit of a sandwich.

"So how was last night?" I asked, a slight teasing tone in my voice.

I saw her smile through her bite as she signaled for me to wait a second. "Good," she replied, swallowing the food. "Really good," she added, a near smirk on her face.

I laughed. "A little too good?"

"You could say that..." She winked at me. "So how's that part of your life?" she asked.

"Nonexistent," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

She laughed. "Nonexistent, eh?" I nodded. "Well, this bloke of mine has a mate you might be interested in," she said, winking again. "Real cute from what I hear."

I blushed in response. "I don't know about that..." I replied, visibly shrinking in my chair.

"Come on!" she said, playfully pushing on my shoulder. "Live a little."

I smiled, finally giving in. "All right, all right," I said. "When should I meet this incredibly cute person?"

"Tomorrow," she replied. "We'll pick you up at 8:00."

I laughed. "That sure I'd say yes, were you?"

"Of course," she replied, shrugging. "Who wouldn't?"


My afternoons were always considerably less stressful than my days, and this particular day was no exception.

I essentially went about, tending to whomever needed tending and handling basic menial tasks.

"Hermione," I heard Layla call as I walked by her office.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Take this to Draco Malfoy," she near-ordered, handing me a slip of parchment. "It's incredibly pertinent."

"But why...?" I began.

"An owl might be intercepted," she replied briskly. "Now go."

I simply nodded and did as she asked.

"Malfoy," I said as I approached the door to his potions lab.

"What do you want, Granger?" he asked, coming to the door. He could scarcely mask the disdain in his voice, but I tried to ignore it.

I handed him the parchment. "From Layla," I said quickly.

"Oh," he responded, and I saw his face change noticeably to something I couldn't quite place. He took the parchment readily, opened it immediately, and read. I saw his face go from almost hopeful, to emotionless, to possibly even disappointed. I could have almost sworn he sighed as he refolded it.

"Tell her I got the message," he said to me.

"Will do," I responded, turning to go.

I couldn't help but wonder what that parchment had said to get that sort of emotion from Draco Malfoy, but then again, I supposed it was none of my business.


A/N: Hey everyone, I know not much happened in this section, but sometime's it's like that. Let me know what you think, though. Thanks!