Disclaimer; I own nothing you see and everything you don't.
A/N Hello everyone! I hope you are enjoying the story. I am having fun writing it. So happy reading and don't forget to review. I know I am early entering this but I'm tired so I hope no one minds... Back at St. Mungo's
Hermione spent the remainder of the weekend at home. Conflicted couldn't even begin to describe the feeling inside her very soul. Something had stirred in her out on that dance floor. She glanced at her night table and saw the sparkling crystal star that Draco Malfoy had given her on their date. It had been easily the most beautiful experience of her life. And yet she knew she had to forget it. Forget the silvery orbs that danced in the candle light of the ball room. Forget his smile. Forget everything. They were too different. And she could not afford to have her heart broken at this point in her life. She dedicated every waking hour to healing and helping orphans. By the time Monday came around and it was time for work again she had shut the door on Draco Malfoy. She got dressed in her crisp lime green healer's robes and pulled her messy curls into a ponytail before heading off to St. Mungo's. She apperated there as she did every day and was met by a barrage of 'hellos' and 'good mornings' from her co-workers and hospital staff. She made her way to her ward. The children's ward. When she entered the room the children cheered from their beds.
"Hermione!" a little blonde girl cried out. "Where have you been? We missed you!"
"Well Claire," Hermione started "I only work Monday through Friday. I stay at home on Saturdays and Sundays. I'm sure you were well taken care of while I was gone." she winked.
"Yeah, but healer Potter is no where near as fun." a brown haired boy complained.
"I can assure you that Ginny Potter is a lot of fun. She just wants you lot to heal up so you can go home." Hermione said. A few of the older children hung their heads. They were some of the orphans she worked with. Entire families wiped out by Voldemort. Harry had eventually destroyed him about six months ago and peace reined over the wizarding community. But still the sad children who had no family lingered in the hospital ward. Most wizards were not keen to adopt them, thinking foolishly that Voldemort or his followers would find them and finish them off. And they were not about to risk that.
"I'm sorry." she said. "That was tactless of me to say." she looked over at the three older children at the end of the ward. Two boys and a girl. They had become fast friends and reminded her strongly of herself, Ron and Harry.
"It's okay Hermione." The dark haired boy said. "We know you didn't mean it like that."
She smiled at them before heading to her desk where Ginny was still sitting waiting for her weekend shift to end.
"Time to go Ginny." Hermione said brightly laying her things down on the desk.
"Oh gee, is it 9 am already?" she asked stretching. Hermione could tell she was being sarcastic. The weekend shift was always the longest 2 days of your life.
"As a matter of fact it is." Hermione beamed. And then it came. Ginny was going to ask about her date.
"So?" Ginny asked wide eyed.
"So what?" Hermione replied.
"The date. The mysterious man who bid 1500 galleons to go on one date with you? Who was he? Did you have a good time?" questions kept falling out of her mouth until Hermione held up her hand.
"I really don't want to talk about it." she said.
"Why what happened? Was he a jerk? Was he ugly? Stupid? What?" Ginny asked quickly.
"Merlin." Hermione sighed.
"Come on. That's all I've thought about the past twelve hours is finding out what happened. Old married ladies like me need some kind of excitement."
"Fine. The date was a disaster. Are you happy now?" she asked.
"What happened? You were so excited when you left here Friday night."
"It was the company." Hermione said flatly. "I knew him, well, we knew him."
Ginny's mouth fell open.
"Does he work here?" she asked.
"No, we know him from school." Hermione replied trying to delay the answer as long as possible.
"Healer training? Who would we know from there with 1500 galleons to spend on one date?" she wondered.
"No, from Hogwarts." Hermione said through tight lips.
"HOGWARTS?" Ginny shouted. "He went to Hogwarts with us?"
Hermione nodded.
"Who would have that kind of money?" Ginny wondered. Then as if a light bulb went off underneath her mess of red hair she shouted;
"DRACO MALFOY! It was Malfoy?" she asked.
Hermione nodded again.
"Oh my gods! You went on a date with Draco Malfoy?" Ginny could barely suppress her giggles.
"Not funny Ginny." Hermione said irritably.
"Sure it is. Bet he loved it when he saw it was you." she laughed.
"He was speechless. As was I. I tried to back out but he insisted I stay." Hermione told her.
"How did he look?" Ginny asked curiously.
"What kind of question is that Ginerva? You are married! To my best friend no less."
"Hot huh?" Ginny replied. One eyebrow raised in an accusing fashion.
"GINNY!" Hermione shouted, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.
"You just answered my question." Ginny sung. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"He looked very nice. But he was the same old Malfoy." she said.
"So he was an arse?" Ginny asked.
"Not the whole time. He actually said he bid because he thought I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Of course that was before he knew it was me he said as well. We did dance though. And that was quite pleasant. And yes he was quite handsome. But in the end I left. We are just too different and it would never work out. Not that I would consider it or anything but I have to keep a straight head about me working in this place."
Ginny just smiled and nodded.
"What?" Hermione asked. Ginny said nothing and continued to smile.
"Have a good day Hermione. You too Malfoy." she said as she gathered her things and walked out the door past a stunned Hermione. Hermione turned around quickly and came face to face with Draco Malfoy.
"Handsome eh?" he asked. A full blush came over Hermione's entire body. He was wearing a baby blue button up shirt underneath his royal blue robes. His eyes stood out more than they had previously.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in an annoyed manner. Tapping her foot on the tile floor.
"Well, you left so suddenly on Saturday I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I knew you worked here from your bio."
"I am just fine thank you very much."
"Well, you forgot these." he said handing her a half dead bunch of red roses.
"Gee thanks." she said setting the dying flowers on her desk. "So is that all?"
"Well no." he mumbled. "I didn't want things to be left like that. Despite my surprise at you being the girl I bid on I had a good time."
Hermione eyeballed him suspiciously.
"Yeah." she said turning to her paperwork.
"I think you did too." he said somewhat smugly.
"Don't presume to know anything about me. I was there on behalf of the Orphan fund. Nothing more. I tolerated your presence for as long as I could. Dinner, two dances and that was all I owed for your donation."
"It wasn't all bad." he said softly to her. "I enjoyed our conversation. You are something to talk to."
Hermione slightly blushed again.
"Well that is very nice of you to say, but like I said, I only did that out of support for the orphans of the war. It was nice to see you again after all these years but I have work to do now." she started walking towards the two long rows of beds.
"Can I help you with anything?" he called after her.
"Draco Malfoy offering to do charity work? What are you trying to pull?" she said spinning around to meet his gaze again.
"It's just looks like you are understaffed here. Maybe I can keep the kids entertained."
"They are not all purebloods." she spat at him waiting for him to back off.
"So?" he replied. "What does that matter?"
"Fine. There are some books over there. And a chair in the corner. I will tell them all that you are going to read to them."
Draco nodded at her. He walked over to the bookshelf and picked up a worn book. The rocking chair in the corner was also worn and weathered. He sat down in it and a dozen or so kids gathered on the woven rug that was on the floor in front of him. Their wide eyes and expectant stares made Draco slightly nervous. He looked at the book It was slightly long and had a picture of a dark haired boy on a broomstick on the cover. It was about a young boy who found out he was a wizard. Draco had to admit it was quite good. He was having fun reading to the kids. One of whom, a small blonde girl named Claire had climbed onto his lap.
Hermione stood behind her desk and gaped at Draco. The kids seemed to enjoy him reading to them. He acted out parts of the book with different voices. Hermione had to laugh to herself several times. Hours flew by and soon it was time for the children's lunch and potions.
"Children." she called "Story time is over. Lunch time."
A unified groan came from the corner.
"Hermione…" one of the kids whined.
"Don't Hermione me. Thank Mr. Malfoy for reading to you and come to the table." she pointed at a long wooden table with benches on either side that sat near her desk.
All the children said "Thank you Mr. Malfoy." and ran over to the table. The little blonde girl Claire hugged him tightly before running to the table.
Draco felt a slight tug at his heart. This ward was by far the shabbiest in St. Mungo's. The beds were worn and the paint was peeling from the walls. The bedding was old and tattered and the children had limited toys and books. Draco put the book back on the shelf before walking back towards Hermione's desk.
"Thank you." she said. "The kids don't get many visitors. Some of them have no one."
"Do you think we could have a drink sometime?" he asked. "Just to talk."
"Is that why you helped out here? So you could try to hit on me? You have some nerve Draco Malfoy. Please leave now."
"No, I just thought we could talk sometime. I had fun reading to them." but his words fell on deaf ears. She put her hand up and walked silently towards the dining table. Defeated he walked out of the ward. But not before little Claire ran up behind him.
"Mr. Malfoy. Can you come back and read to us some time?" she pleaded.
"Well, I think that is up to Hermione." he said bending down to be at eye level with her. Hermione looked up from serving lunch and saw the little girl talking to Draco.
"Claire, come sit down and eat." she called.
"Hermione, can Mr. Malfoy come back and read to us sometime. Pretty please?" she batted her long black eyelashes.
"We will see. Mr. Malfoy is a very busy man. Now come sit down."
Claire ran to her seat waving her hand at Draco. He stood up and looked at Hermione as she gave the children their various potions they needed to get better.
"Goodbye Hermione." he said walking out the door.
"Bye." she replied not looking back up.
Draco walked down the hall and racked his brain. He had never in all his life been so rejected by one woman. And he didn't know why it bothered him so. She had every quality he had ever wanted in a woman and she didn't have the slightest interest in even having a drink with him.
He sighed heavily before letting his mind wander to those children. Some had no family. Just like him. He wondered about the little blonde girl. Were her parents killed? Were they tortured by that cowardly Voldemort? It sickened him to think of it. By the time he apperated home his mind was swimming with a newly founded idea.
As Hermione fed the children lunch she couldn't help but think of Draco. Never in all her life would she have thought Draco Malfoy would have shown up and read to a bunch of sick kids and orphans. A small smile played across her face. Ginny would never believe it.