Aftermath

AN: ok... so here's 4... I hope its up to snuff with my other work. Wow 4141 words

Thanks to all who reviewed. Vamsprite, viola1701e, TruthCannotAlwaysBeHidden, Varan Nighshade.

Disclamer: I own nothing.. go away.

Hermione POV

I sit beside Draco bed in the Dragon Sanctuary Infirmary, waiting for him to wake up from his... transfiguration-induced nap. I sigh and rub my eyes, thinking over what happened since he returned to human form.

Flashback

I stay turned as Charlie rushes over and covers the newly reformed Draco, calling for a Healer. All that pale smooth skin... no Hermione stop thinking about that. Even Ron hadn't been that pale. HERMIONE STOP! I rub my face and wait, glancing over my shoulder as Charlie chuckles.

"It's ok now Mione... he's covered. Guess you should probably relay that information when you check in huh... that they come back naked." I blush red again as I turn back and look at Charlie with a frown.

"I suppose I should... I just didn't... it all happened so fast I guess I wasn't expecting it at all." I say with a sigh, kneeling down next to him, checking Draco over, and placing a bracelet on his wrist. Shaking my head as Charlie raises an eyebrow.

"Just something so he can't run off and actual go into hiding. Minimal magic bind and tracking so if he does run off I can find him easily enough... thought with how he just dropped I doubt he'll be doing much running any time soon. You think he's safe enough to move?" I ask as I look up at the Healer, he nods, tucking the blanket around Draco a bit tighter.

"I think so... he seems fine just... exhausted. I'm sure his life has been quiet stressful up to now. Come on then, let's get him back to the infirmary so we can do some deeper tests and get him cleaned up and into some clothes." Charlie nods and picks Draco up carefully and walks with us back to the buggy, setting Draco on the back seat carefully, glancing at me.

"Why don't you stay with him... make sure he doesn't fall off the seat or wake up and hurt himself." He says as he climbs into the driver's seat, I nod and slide in with Draco, moving his head to my lap. I don't miss the smirk on his face as he looks back at us; I roll my eyes and make a face at him.

"Shut up... he's been through enough right now... if nothing else it'll help me know he's waking up. Just get us to the Infirmary huh... quickly." He salutes me and turns the buggy back towards the buildings once everyone is on that's getting on, driving at a good clip to the infirmary. I look down at the sleeping Draco as we go. He looked so nice sleeping... peaceful... gentle. But I knew better... the Draco I knew wasn't nice... or peaceful... and I doubt he was gentle. I sigh and stroke his hair, sitting back in the seat. At least I could report something now... I should probably do that as soon as I was sure he was stable and alive and had knew that his mind was intact enough to give a statement... at least give one when he woke up.

I step out of the buggy as it stops, giving Charlie room to pick up the still sleeping Draco and carry him into the infirmary, laying him on a bed and moving to the side with me while the Medi-Team goes to work on him.

"They'll be a bit... why don't you go owl your boss, say you found him and give a short report. You know the kind. Found him, back in human form. Transformed back naked... will report more later. Don't you worry Mione... I'll stay and make sure he's ok till you get back." I smile and give Charlie a peck on the cheek as I turn and head to the Owlery to send my letter. I grab a piece of parchment and a quill from the desk and write my report quickly.

Kingsley,

Found Draco; have returned him to human form. He is currently unconscious and in the Infirmary. Will report more when he wakes up. Shouldn't be more then a few more days until I return to London with him.

The spell works, however it transforms them back nude. Just a warning as it was a bit of a shock to me.

Hermione Granger.

I read over my report again before I roll it up and seal it, going to find an owl to send to the Ministry. I settle on a barn owl, no sense in using something grand and official for a simple report. I sigh and send the owl off, heading to the café to grab a few apples before heading to the Infirmary to wait for the sleeping Slytherin to wake up.

End Flashback

I'm brought out of my memories by someone taking my face and kissing me softly. It was a nice kiss, not too soft but not too hard, no extra spit or tongue it was just... nice. Sadly, my eyes decided to focus then and see who's kissing me... none other then the sleeping ferret himself, Draco Malfoy. I yelp and jerk back, my hand lashing out and smacking him hard enough to cause him to fall back into his bed. I feel sorry for him for a second... until he opens his mouth. God why must men ruin everything by opening their stupid mouths? I roll my eyes and shake my head, straightening my jumper as I answer him.

"I keep hitting you because your actions tend to bring out my violent side." I sigh and rub my eyes. Be nice Hermione... he probably didn't mean anything by it... it was JUST a kiss.

"Look... I am sorry I hit you... it was just a knee jerk reaction. Why the bloody hell did you kiss me anyway?" I ask, ringing the call bell for the medi-witch to come and check on him. He shrugs and sits back.

"Don't really know... you did bring me back to human form... as a thank you perhaps? What does it matter?" he says with a huff. I roll my eyes and get up as the medi-witch comes over, nodding to me.

"I'll give him a check Miss. Granger then I'll have the healer check him over. You don't have to stay if you don't want... it's well past dinnertime. Go on then... go have some food I'll be sure to call you if there's anything you need to know. He'll be under guard all night by myself and an orderly. No need to worry... dinner and then to bed with you. Can't have you getting sick can we?" she says, shooing me out of the Infirmary. I sigh and go, heading to the café to grab a late dinner, though I wasn't all that hungry... my mind kept playing that kiss over in my head.

"Oh for heavens sake it was just a kiss, stop over thinking everything." I mumble to myself as I sit at a table in the café, looking over the menu, tapping a few things and waiting, laying my head to the side of my placemat with a sigh. I always did this... over thought everything until I didn't know what was what anymore. I smile as Charlie sits beside me with a cup of tea and a few biscuits.

"Wondered where you got to Mione... head nurse finally kicked you out then?" he asks with a chuckle. I smile and nod, sitting back up as my food appears. Nice hearty stew, some crusty bread and a mug of Butterbeer, the perfect dinner for someone who needed to relax.

"Yeah... he woke up so there wasn't a real need for me to stay there... I'll probably go check on him see if he's ready to make a statement after I eat. Hadn't realizes it was so late." I say as I take a few bites.

"Not all that late... gets dark here pretty fast this time of year." He takes a sip of his tea, dunking a biscuit.

"So... what's on your mind then?" he asks, sucking on the soggy biscuit. I sigh and roll my eyes. Why did they always know when something was bothering me? All of the Weasley's had a knack for it... well... all but Ronald. I play with my stew as I try to figure out how to say it.

"Oh... I might as well just say it then." I mumble and take a drink to settle my nerves as Charlie grins.

"He... kissed me... when he woke up. It wasn't bad or anything... but then he made it out to be nothing and I'm not so sure and I'm over thinking it and I think I'm going to be ill and I just don't know and I need to know I mean I can't NOT know. I'm Hermione Granger... the know it all of everything..." I stop when Charlie puts a soggy biscuit into my mouth. Glaring at him and silently thanking him for stopping the flow of words from my mouth.

"That's better then... now seems to me you're a bit foggy on WHY he kissed you? No talking... just nod if I'm right... that's a good girl. It could be he was simply thanking you for getting him back to human form... I mean it's not like he can take you out for a drink or buy you a gift right now. Or it could be that he does like you. Don't make that face I grew up with Molly as a mother and Ginny as a sister... that angry face means nothing to me." I roll my eyes and go back to my dinner, nodding for him to continue.

"So... where was I...? Oh yes... Malfoy liking you. It IS possible Hermione... just because my idiot of a brother didn't see it don't mean others don't. You are attractive you know. Good figure, brilliant mind, good job... your kind and sweet and loving to all but your most hated enemies"

"But isn't Malfoy a most hated enemy?" I ask, dunking a bit of bread into my stew as I look at Charlie. He shrugs.

"Maybe at one point he was but now I wouldn't be so sure. The war changed a lot of people... I don't think he wanted to be on the dark side... I don't know if he really had a choice. I mean the Dark Lord WAS using his home as a Head Quarters... you don't cross someone when you can't get away from them. You know that." I sigh and nod. After the war it had some to light that many of the Death Eaters were being forced into it, at least this time around they were. At first, it probably all seemed like great fun, being on top of the world, being powerful and being able to hold power over others but after Voldemort fell the first time things changed. People changed. They grew up; realized all-powerful beings weren't always the best things. When he came back, a lot of them had no choice but to follow him or face death or torture of either themselves or the family they had made.

"I guess that's understandable... it's still confusing. As to my job, I don't know if I'll be doing it much longer. I don't want to travel for work; At least not on a regular basis. I mean its one thing to go to conferences or something but... I want to be able to settle down at some point. Maybe start a family. I plan to talk to Kingsley when I get back... if I can't come to an agreement with him; McGonagall's been on me for a while about starting a new class at Hogwarts. So the next generation understands how the laws and such work... and why there in place. As well as how to go about doing stuff according to the laws, import plants and animals, stuff like that. I think it might be something I'd enjoy. It certainly couldn't hurt for more people to understand how the law and government are supposed to work." I say as I finish my dinner and look over the menu for my pudding, my dessert. I settle on a fruit and rhubarb crumble with a scoop of ice cream, mashing it all together when it appears in front of me.

We sit in silence for a while, each of us lost in our own thoughts. The war was over but we both still held scars about it. We had seen death up close, thankfully, neither of us had lost family but we knew many who had. I sit back with a relaxed sigh once I finish my crumble and Butterbeer, looking over at Charlie.

"I think I might ask for a year off to see what I really want to do. If the class goes well I'll quiet my job at the Ministry and become a teacher, if not... I'm sure Kingsley will take me back." I say as I steal one of his biscuits. He chuckles and nods.

"He'd be a fool not to give you time to figure it all out. You threw your self into work as soon as you graduated... they all must know this would happen to a lot of people. Wanting to try other things. I mean going into jobs so soon after the war when the ministry was still in such chaos... hell it's still in chaos I think. Go to bed, I'll check on the ferret." I smile and give him a quick hug and head up to my room. I really didn't want to see Draco so soon after... whatever that was when he woke up.

I change and slip into bed with a book, grinning as I snuggle in for a nice long read before a peaceful night of sleep. Perhaps Hogwarts would be a good change of pace for me. I always did love it there; it was so peaceful and nice. Yes... Hogwarts was where I wanted to go next. I just hope Kingsley understands.

oOo

Draco POV

I wake up slowly, the feel of a real bed under me, not my own but still... I was human again and in a building, most likely the infirmary of the Dragon Sanctuary if the smell of sanitizer was anything to go by. She had done it... she'd made me human again. Crap... was I going to have to kiss her now... might be fun. To see her face as I laid one on her, maybe even got a little 'friendly' with her. Six months without getting any wore on a person, and that was just counting the time I was a dragon... not before. Sadly, my sex life had gone down hill since the war ended. Not that I minded not being groped and accosted by everything in a skirt whose daddy wanted to make a name for himself but still... a man had needs after all.

I open my eyes slowly, just a little to see if I was guarded or anything. I didn't feel any chains or cuffs. Though I could feel a bracelet of some sort on my one wrist, probably some sort of find me magical binding so I couldn't run off, just in case I was an idiot. I smirk as I see Granger sitting beside my bedside, lost in thought as always. Awwww she cared about me. HA, yeah right... probably wanted to be the first one to talk to me so she could lecture me on being a good citizen or some other such bollocks. My eyes look her over, taking her all in from her muddy boots to her hip hugging pants to her too big jumper likely made by the older Mrs. Weasley. She'd looked worse before... but I had to admit there was something about her, something I just couldn't place... maybe it was just my lack of female companionship for so long but... she looked... nice.

I open my eyes the rest of the way and sit up slowly, leaning back against the headboard, swaying a little. I shake the fog out of my head and stretch, groaning. Merlin it was nice to be human again. I lick my lips and reach over to grab the chair Granger was in, pulling it towards the bed slowly, smoothly. Now what was I going to do to her... honestly I didn't know... kissing her might be a nice place to start... yeah. I did say I would if she got me back to human form so... here we go. I had to do this quick and smooth or I'd likely get bits hex'ed off me before I could say I was sorry... imagine that. Me, Draco Lucius Malfoy apologizing to Hermione Granger. Father would kick my ass if he even thought I was thinking of it... or he would have at least... maybe he still would.

I lick my lips again and take her face in my hands tenderly and kiss her. Not a deep soul searing fuck-me-now kiss... just a kiss. Simple, sweet... and amazingly gentle... that is at least until she realizes what's happening and smacks me. What is it with her and hitting me? I yelp and fall back against the headboard, holding my face.

"OW... what was that for Granger? It was just a kiss. Not like I tried to mount you or anything. Why do you keep hitting me?" I ask as I rub my cheek, working my jaw. She had a hell of an arm for a girl. She rolls her eyes and tugs at her jumper as she answers me.

"I keep hitting you because your actions tend to bring out my violent side." She snarks at me as she rubs her eyes before speaking again.

"Look... I am sorry I hit you... it was just a knee jerk reaction. Why the bloody hell did you kiss me anyway?" she asks as she rings the call bell for the medi-witch to come and check on me. At least she apologized. I shrug and sit back, crossing my arms over my naked chest. Shit did I transform back naked... is that why she was so snippy?

"Don't really know... you did bring me back to human form... as a thank you perhaps? What does it matter?" I say with a huff. She rolls her eyes and gets up as the medi-witch comes over, nodding as she looked me over.

"I'll give him a check Miss. Granger then I'll have the healer check him over. You don't have to stay if you don't want... it's well past dinnertime. Go on then... go have some food I'll be sure to call you if there's anything you need to know. He'll be under guard all night by myself and an orderly. No need to worry... dinner and then to bed with you. Can't have you getting sick can we?" the medi-witch says, shooing Granger out of the Infirmary. So it was still Granger... I had wondered what had happened between her and Weasley. I didn't remember seeing a marriage announcement or anything but, you never know. Wait... why did I care if she was single...? I shake my head and smile at the medi-witch, smiling my most innocent smile.

"Evening... would it be to much trouble to get something to wear... boxers or something at least... I'm a bit exposed." She grins at me and flicks her wand at a cupboard, a pair of cotton boxers and flannel sleep pants floating over to me.

"Course dearie... just wanted you to wake up first, me sure you didn't wake up to someone handling you. Could have been an awful shock. Now I'll give you a few minutes while I call the healer to make sure you're doing ok and are ready for some food. Any issues or anything? Pain or anything?" I shake my head and slip out of bed as she pulls the screen around and goes to call the healer. I wrinkle my nose at the cotton and flannel of the clothing she gave me but it would do, and truth be told it wasn't that bad. I still preferred silk to cotton... the flannel sleep pants were actually rather nice though. I sit back in the bed and wait for the healer, nodding to him as he peeks around the screen before pushing it back.

"I'm Healer Freeman. How are we feeling now that were awake?" he asks as he waves his wand over me, getting my temperature and such, noting it in a file. I shrug at his question and let him do his tests, no reason for me to answer... I don't think he really expected an answer.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, it seems you're doing quiet well. Your medical records from your healer at home should be here by morning so I'll have a better grasps of it by then. But by all standard spells you're in top form. Is there anything you can think of that your healer has mentioned being different then the norm in your regular check ups?" he asks, sitting in the chair Granger had been in before. I think for a moment, smiling at the medi-witch as she hands me a glass of water, taking a sip.

"I believe he mentioned I was colder then most but that runs in my family, on my father's side at least. Besides that, nothing really comes to mind. Please tell me I'm well enough to eat something, while you gave me plenty transfiguration takes a LOT of energy and I'm starving." Healer Freeman chuckles and nods, motioning for the nurse to come over.

"Melissa... would you mind getting Mr. Malfoy some stew and pumpkin juice, nothing too heavy but I don't see any issue with him eating... just make sure he doesn't eat to much. Perhaps a light midnight snack as well if he's awake. Warm rolls with butter and jam, that type of thing. Make sure he stays hydrated as well; we must keep a close eye on him. I don't know if there's ever been another transfigured to a dragon before, but, were sure to have a few more like him if the rumors are true." She nods and smiles, heading off to get me some dinner.

"Well unless you have some questions I think I'll leave you to it then, no wondering around or causing a lot of noise. You need to rest Mr. Malfoy." I smile and nod, settling into bed, grinning at the nurse as she brings me my dinner and something sweet for after. Normally, I'd probably try to get in good with her but truthfully... I was just too tired to try and tricks right now. I just wanted this all to be over and to go home, see my mother, get on with my life... I was ready for all of this to just be sodding OVER!

"Now I'll be right over at my desk if you need anything... the lavatory is threw the door at the far end of the room, if you need help you call of me ok." She says with a smile. I nod and tuck into my food, savoring it as I eat. Hearty beef stew with vegetables and crusty bread for dunking, chilled pumpkin juice with bits of ice floating around in it, delicious. For pudding, I got... well... pudding. Rich and thick fudge pudding, chilled to perfection and in a cute little cup. Oh the simple pleasures in life. I nod my thanks to the nurse as she takes away my empty plates, setting a pitcher of water by my bedside.

I spend the rest of the time between dinner and sleep walking the Infirmary, getting my muscle and joints back into working form. I really didn't feel that bad, of course if Granger or any Ministry flunkies tried to push me I'd be on the floor sobbing in pain. I nod to nurse Melissa as I settle into bed, sliding down between the rough sheets. Oh, how I longed to be home in my satin sheet covered bed... but it was better then sleeping outside. I sigh and snuggle into the bed, dreaming of a home I would, hopefully, soon return to. Hopefully; the Ministry didn't try to make ME the bad guy in all of this. I didn't mean to go missing after all.

AN: ok... so there's... what 4? Yeah chapter 4. so... what did we think? Come on... tell me...