Chapter 4 – The Leaky Cauldron

I occasionally saw Granger waiting for her healer. Sometimes we'd just wave to each other. A few times I'd go see how she was doing and we'd chat for a minute. I found out that she worked at the department for magical law. When she told me I rolled my eyes.

"So typical of the golden trio. Hey, we just finished a war! You know what would be great? Let's do it again, let's be aurors!" I mocked.

Needless to say she didn't take my mocking well.

I'd grown fond of our chats, but I hadn't seen Granger in almost two weeks. I was starting to worry. I'd even checked the appointment book and found nothing. She'd only been coming here for 2 months, there was no way she was healed already. I found myself getting annoyed at her healer for their incompetence. I'd noticed my mood slipping but didn't realize how grumpy I'd become until I had a meeting with Healer Rodriguez.

"Malfoy, sit." She gestured to the chair opposite her desk, "Look Malfoy. You are one of our best resident's, and clearly you will be a fantastic Healer one day. Your work ethic is astounding. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you liked work better then home." She paused there, looking for a reaction. I almost smiled at her antics, did she really think she could get to me if Voldemort hadn't? She continued, "But you're stomping around biting people's heads off. I know you come from money and are used to doing what you want, but this is a work place. I'd really like it if my staff didn't cringe every time you entered a room."

I tried not to look mad, like money had anything to do with how I acted, "I am simply pointing out people's flawed work. If they didn't want to hear about it then they should have done it right."

She sighed, "No one is perfect Malfoy. Why do you think I'm talking to you? Your attitude stinks. I think something happened, but there's a snowballs chance in hell you'll talk to me about it. So I'm giving you the rest of the week off to get your head right. And this includes your volunteer time on the weekend."

My stomach dropped, if I had time off Mother would expect me at the manor. "What if I promise to not talk to anyone instead?"

Rodriguez looked taken aback, "Excuse me?"

"I'll apologize to everyone, and not talk to them for the rest of the week. I promise."

She rubbed her face, "I'm giving you time off. Without you asking for it. And you're begging me to work? Malfoy you need to rest! If you keep working like you have you'll get burnt out. Go have a life, make a date, drink some beer, life isn't just about work."

I starred at her, stunned into silence. She was really making me go home, "Oh." I said, hearing my own defeat. I stood up and walked out. As the door closed I could have sworn I heard her mumble something about feeling like she'd kicked a puppy.

Not wanting to go back to my apartment, as if that would prove Rodriguez right somehow, I headed for the leaky cauldron. 'Make a date, drink a beer.' Her voice mocked me as I sat at the bar. Make a date? With who? My mind went to Granger and I scoffed. A date with a mud-a muggleborn? , Mother would be furious and that thought made me grin. It'd be payback for all those years I'd been forced to live in the manor. Technically the ministry forced me to stay there, but if it hadn't been for her and father insisting I join the Dark Lord then I never would have been in that situation. I shook my head, I must really be going crazy if I was even considering it.

I'd been drinking a little while, my head spinning the whole time, before I heard, "Draco?" I downed my fire whiskey and turned to see Blaize Zabini walking towards me. "Wow, it really is you. You look like crap." I laughed and nodded at Tom to pour me another drink. Zabini nodded at Tom too and got a drink of his own.

"Any reason we're drinking tonight?" Zabini asked.

I sighed, if I hadn't already been 4 drinks in I would have told him to go away. As it was I was tired, confused, and my head was starting to feel fuzzy. Fire whiskey was some powerful stuff. "I was told to take vacation from work for the rest of the week."

"Work?" Zabini looked shocked.

I smirked as I took a sip of the new drink, "Yeah, maybe you've heard of it."

Zabini chuckled at my teasing, "Not exactly, but I definitely didn't think that you had."

Feeling the Malfoy pride surface I puffed out my chest a little and said, "Hey, I have an astounding work ethic thank you very much."

"Oh really?" Zabini looked sceptical, "Then why were you told to take a vacation?"

"Well," I started as I turned to look at him, "it turns out that when you inform people they are doing their job wrong, they get a little pissy about it."

Zabini snorted, "Still a Malfoy I see then. Everything has to be the best, and those that are beneath you need to know it."

I frowned, "They aren't beneath me Zabini. We're healers, if something goes wrong someone could get hurt. I'm not letting patients get hurt in my hospital."

I continued to frown at him and then burst out laughing. I saw Zabini lean forward and tell Tom something, and suddenly my drink was gone. "Hey!" I exclaimed.

"Come on man, you've clearly had enough. Let me take you home."

I frowned and faced Zabini, "What is with everyone telling me what to do today? I am a Malfoy remember? I tell you what to do. So sit down and have another drink with me."

I turned back around on my stool and tried to grab Tom's attention. Just then I saw the golden trio walk in the door. My gaze instantly went to Hermione, checking her to see if she was okay. Blaze saw where my attention had suddenly shifted to and his eyes went wide.

"Oh we so need to get you home." He muttered under his breath, "Potter and Weasley can not see you looking at her like that."

I glared at Zabini, "I am not looking at her in any one particular way you idiot. I'm her healer, I'm just making sure she's okay."

Zabini scoffed, "So you do this for all your patients then? Stare worriedly after them like some kind of lost puppy?"

I got mad and unknowingly raised my voice, "Goddammit Blaize I am a grown goddamn man and I will not stand hear and listen to you talk to me like this!" I stormed out of the bar, unaware that I had attracted the attention of the trio. Three pairs of eyes watched me storm off, clearly drunk.

I hadn't even made it three buildings over before I heard a soft voice calling me, "Draco, wait!" I sighed loudly and turned to see Hermione jogging up to me, "Are you okay?" She looked worried.

I starred at her, there were bags under her eyes again. "Am I okay?! Look at you! You clearly haven't slept well and you've stopped seeing your healer!" I yelled, "I mean you just stop showing up, no explanation. How was I supposed to know how you were doing?!" I ran my hands through my hair, pulling at it a little.

She watched my action and then spoke quietly as I paced around the sidewalk, "I'm swamped at work and my healer and I were communicating through owl. Besides, I'm a mudblood-"

I spun on her and spat, "Don't you dare say that word." She looked taken aback and I instantly felt guilty. Angry at myself I sat down on the edge of the sidewalk, covering my face with my hands. I felt sick.

After a second she walked over and sat down beside me, placing her hand on my shoulder, "Why does it matter to you if I'm okay?"

I looked at her and pain cut through me at the thought of how awful I had been to her as a child, all the hate that sparked the war. "Because it's my fault."

She looked confused, "What?"

I growled in frustration, how was she this slow tonight? "My aunt- Bella. She-" I couldn't say the words, I felt sick and put my head between my knees. "It's my fault." I whispered miserably to the ground.

"Draco… There was nothing you could have done. They would have killed you, or at least have given you a scar like mine." She leaned over and hugged me, and rubbed my back. I felt tears start to build in my eyes, and I was suddenly furious. How could she be kind to me? Stupid girl, didn't she see I didn't deserve it? I stood up and glared down at her, "Don't touch me."

She looked hurt at my sudden venom. Angry at myself for hurting her and confused by my anger I stormed away, aware in some part of my mind that I had no idea how to get home from here.