Narcissa had agreed to the surgery. Draco was not happy with the decision.
Although it was his own idea to try the muggle treatment, the thought of cutting open his mother and that too without any magical aid was absolutely outrageous to him.
Draco had been stone faced since their visit to the hospital. His mind racing with the things that could go wrong. Narcissa had retired to her room. The visit had left her exhausted and she demanded to be left alone.
Draco was restless. His mind chaotic. He needed to talk to someone. So he apparated to a person who knew muggles well.
POTTER COTTAGE
Draco stood outside the potter cottage in the village of Godric's Hollow. It was a cold December evening. Draco rubbed his hands together. A chill ran through him. He had forgotten his cloak back at the manor. Without a second thought he knocked on the door.
A few seconds later a witch with flaming red hair opened the door. He eyes widened in surprise. "'Malfoy!"
"Good to see you too Weasley" Draco replied sarcasm in his voice.
"How many times do I have to tell you? It's Potter now!"
"Old habits die hard Weasely" Draco said rolling his eyes. He stepped inside hastily.
"I thought Malfoys were well bred!" exclaimed Ginny. "Barging into my home like this! You might as well have asked me to invite you in?" Ginny asked her eyebrows shooting up with hands on her waist.
"You see weasel I'm not a vampire who needs to be invited in to enter a house." Replied Draco taking a seat on the couch in Potter's living room.
"Are you sure about that?" She asked pointing a finger at his unnatural pale skin and platinum blonde hair.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"I would love to make small talks weasel. But I'm in a rush. I need to talk to Potter right now."
"Well he's not home" Ginny replied crossing her arms. "He went to Hermione and Ron's two hours ago. Shouldn't take him long now."
"Good I'll wait." Draco replied.
"Okay then." Ginny said. "Care for some tea?"
"I would very much like a firewhiskey."
Ginny's eyes shot up. "oookaaay. Firewhiskey for you then."
Ginny made herself some tea and poured fire whiskey for Draco.
When she came back to the living room Draco was pacing up and down.
"Are you okay Malfoy?"Ginny asked her eyes narrowing and focusing on Draco.
"What does it look like Ginny!"Draco spat back.
"Honestly? It looks like something has fucked your arse big time" mocked ginny.
Draco gave her a deadly glare.
"What do you know about the muggle healers, Ginny? Draco inquired.
"Muggle healers? Wha- why do you ask?"
"I heard you dad was once treated by one?"
"Yes he was." She nodded. "Mum had a fit when she came to know that the doctor sewed dad up!" Ginny laughed.
"And did that help? The seweing?" Draco leaned in placing his firewhiskey on the table.
"No, not much. Dad was bit by Voldemort's snake you see. The poison wouldn't let the stitches stay" said Ginny sipping her tea. "Why do you ask?"
Draco sighed "My mother needs to have a surgery. Or so she thinks"
Ginny's tea went to the wrong side of her glottis. She coughed hard.
"Narcissa Malfoy!" cough "is going to have a surgery?"Cough, cough "by the hands of a muggle!?"
Ginny kept on coughing. Draco stood up patting her back
"You've got to be shitting me!" Ginny exclaimed.
Right then the fireplace grew green and three figured entered into the room.
Harry, Ron and Hermione stood, all shocked to see Draco. Ginny was still coughing.
"Oi! You've poisoined her!" Ron said watching Ginny coughing.
"He's trying to kill my sister!"
"Oh shut up Ron!"Hermione exclaimed. Both she and Harry rushed to Ginny.
"I'm fine. I'm fine" Ginny said trying to catch her breath.
Harry now rubbing his wife's back turned towards Draco.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I needed to talk to you" Draco said. "Talk about-
"HIS MOTHER IS GOING TO HAVE A SURGERY !" Ginny shouted.
Everything in the room came to an abrupt halt. Pindrop silence fell.
Harry Ron and Hermione all gaped at Draco.
"What do you mean a surgery? Is she out of her mind!" shouted Ron.
"A muggle surgery?"Hermione asked.
"Yes"draco nodded.
Ron sucked his breath in out loud.
"Stop being so dramatic Ron! It's not a big deal!"
"Not a big deal? They're gonna cut open his mum! No offence, man." Ron added.
"I am terrified of the same thing actually." Draco replied.
"There is nothing to fear Draco. Thousands of surgeries are carried everyday around the world." Harry said. "Dudley too underwent a stomach reduction surgery in his 3 years ago. He's well and healthy" he added telling him about his once obese cousin.
"Like he didn't need that! I would have cut that belly of his myself !" Ginny laughed.
"Why does your mom needs a surgery" Hermione inquired. He eyes fixed on Draco.
"She had cervical cancer. Stage 2"Draco told her.
Hermione let out a shriek. "Oh I'm so sorry Draco! That explains it! Potions don't work on cancers."
"I love how you know everything." Ron stared at Hermione.
She snorted and turned her attention towards Draco again.
"So you've been going to the muggle doctors?" she asked.
"Yes and they said a surgery would be necessary to stop the cancer from spreading"
"And poor Draco is scared." Ginny chimed. Draco shot her an ugly look that Ginny cheerfully ignored.
"I told you Malfoy. There's no need to be scared." Said harry.
"Exactly" added Hermione.
"But they are going to cut his mother open!"Ron exclaimed again.
"Oh for merlin's sake Ron! Give it a rest!" Ginny shouted.
"Draco, muggles have experienced doctors to handle surgeries. And as harry said many surgeries are carried everyday. Narcissa would not feel a thing during it. The doctors numb the pain." Hermione explained.
"What if something happens after?" Draco asked his eyebrows furrowed.
"She'll experience some weakness for somedays, that's it." Said harry seriously.
"There are always potions to help too" Ginny said smiling at Draco.
"So when is the surgery happening mate?"Ron asked.
"This Monday." Draco said.
Draco had returned to the manor feeling relaxed. His mind more at ease. He had refused the dinner potters had offered him telling them he'd take his supper with Narcissa instead.
LONDON
Draco and Narcissa had left the manor that afternoon leaving a disappointed elf behind. Wendy had been eager to help her mistress for the upcoming surgery but the constant muggle presence had made the elf reluctantly agree to stay behind.
It was Wednesday, they still were 4 days away from the surgery but Dr Williams had insisted Narcissa to get admitted as soon as possible for prep.
They were given a private room that by Draco's demand was the biggest one available. The room was fairly spacious with one bed surrounded by peculiar beeping machines, a single extra bed, a small study and a black box the muggles called television. It also had a balcony that oversaw the hospital gardens. All in all Draco was not disappointed.
Both the son and the mother had settled fairly, but the tension in the room was palpable. The sudden change in the environment and the finality of the surgery both made Draco and Narcissa nervous, although both of them were reluctant to let it show.
It had been a few hours. Narcissa had changed into the plain clothes that the hospital staff had provided. Draco was having a hard time to relax. His nerves were making him edgy. He started pacing up and down the room.
Just then a girl entered the room. She too wore a white coat and that tube thing called stethoscope that around her neck. Her brown hair were tied in a bun leaving some strands of hair cupping her face, he eyes were hidden under wide rimmed glasses. Much like his secretary she held a notebook in her hand and a pen. She rushed into the room without looking and smashed into pacing Draco.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry" she said as she backed away from him. Her chocolate brown eyes widened and lips parted as she looked at the person she just bumped into.
Allison looked up to the man she crashed into, and instantly flushed. The man was tall, at least 6 feet Allison thought, with lean muscular built and the palest skin tone she had ever seen. His hair were a little longer than normal and very very blond and the little stubble on his jaw which too was of the lightest color managed to illuminate his face even more. His strong hands held her shoulders and balanced her. Icy grey eyes looked down at her.
"You should try to look more often where you're headed to" the man said.
Never before in her life had Allison thanked her clumsiness. Who knew she'd be gawking at this beautiful specimen of a man amidst all the chaos at the hospital. Felling her cheeks burn, she quickly pulled herself together.
She cleared her throat."I'm so sorry. I am Dr. Allison Carter and I'll be assisting Dr. Williams on this case." She said quickly not meeting his eyes. She saw the patient sitting on the bed behind him, evidently his mother and rushed towards her not wanting to get more embarrassed.
"Good evening, I'm Allis-
"I heard you dear. I'm Narcissa Malfoy and that is my son Draco Malfoy" Narcissa pointed towards her son smirking, evidently noticing Allison's blush.
"Yes ummm nice to meet you Mrs. Malfoy. As I said I am posted under Dr Williams and I am here to check your vitals and to take samples." Allison replied.
As Allison did her work she felt Draco's eyes fixed on her, as if he was inspecting every move she made on his mother. She inquired about Mrs Malfoys health side by side as she checked her vital status.
She jotted everything down on her notebook and gave it a satisfied look.
"I think that would be all Mrs. Malfoy." she smiled and put a hand on Narcissa's shoulder. "I'll see you again tomorrow morning".
As she turned she found Draco standing right behind her and she refrained to bump back into him again.
Draco's anxious eyes met hers "Everything is okay right?" he asked
"Yes for now everything seems fine Mr. Malfoy"
"Good, good" Draco replied. Allison felt like he was talking more to himself than felt pity for the bloke. "Don't worry Mr. Malfoy everything is under control"
Draco nodded and gave a menial smile. He held his hand forward "Thank you".
Allison took the hand to shake but as soon as her skin touched his electricity shot through her. Suddenly Draco's eyes became focused on her and both of them jerked their hands back.
"Umm I should go" Allison rushed out of the room her heart hammering.
"What the hell was that?" she thought. She had never been this nervous around someone. Maybe it was the weather. Winter air was always carried some charge with it. Yes that should be it, she thought as she rushed through the corridor.
Draco too was left confused. His hand still tingled by the residues if the jolt that he experienced. This was weird. Draco had been away from a woman's touch for too long. No wonder his stupid body was reacting back. He closed his eyes and pushed his thoughts away. He had important issues to deal with. Although he found himself looking forward to Dr Allison's visit again.