It was about half an hour later that he finally let go off her.
"You feeling okay?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Yes." He whispered and then. "I'm sorry."
"What for?"
He just shook his head, not really answering her question. How could he have told her, that he would have never expected her to see, how miserable his life had really been at school? How was it, that she of all people had seen him for what he really was? She was an exceptionally witch. He had known that ever since she had punched him. Why had he been so damn stupid and not made sure she became his friend all those years ago? Maybe he wouldn't be marked now, if he had!
He pulled away slowly and stood up. She looked simply lovely with the ruffled hair and wide eyes.
'Get a grip, mate! You only just escaped discovery by a threat! Don't push your luck!'
Without another word he left.
Hermione sat there on her bed and was sure, she had just dreamt the last half hour. This man, that seemed so strong and in control, had been shaking in her arms. She wasn't sure, if he had been weeping. Then again, she hadn't seen his face so maybe he had been after all. She felt confused. On the one hand he wanted to keep his mind on the job and on the other he hugged her, as if there was no tomorrow. She could feel, that he wanted to tell her who he was, but something stopped him. He had said, that his name was tainted by his family connections, but he had given her a clue to his identity in the one strange word he said, was his name somewhere on this planet.
And why had she been imagining Draco flipping Malfoy right in front of her! How could that be? How could she mistake her gently protector with this... this... Words failed her. She knew deep down, that she owed him her life. If she liked it or not. And she also knew, that he really wasn't that malicious git he had pretended to be. She had suspected, that somewhere behind that arrogant facade she would have found a caring, witty and fun-to-be-with person. Alas she never got the chance to find out. He had vanished shortly after Voldemort's fall and she hadn't seen him since. She didn't really ask for him in any case, but the snippets she had heard all talked about him having left Scotland only days later. Destination unknown.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind something started to niggle at her, but she didn't pay any attention to it. She was much more concerned about the tall stranger, she shared a house with. His behaviour didn't make any sense. And to top it all had he just saved her life by destroying that strange envelope that arrived via Muggle mail. She signed and absentmindedly tugged a strand of hair behind her ear.
She found him in the sitting room, gently rocking in the chair she had inherited from her grandmother. Maybe it was time to get him out into the Muggle world.
'Be scrutinised by my mum and dad!
Hermione knew, that her mother was looking forward to her finally finding somebody special. And it wasn't as if she wasn't interested in man, but all the guys she had been dating simply hadn't cut it for her. They had been nice, intelligent and often down right gorgeous, but the spark, she was waiting for simply hadn't happened with any of them until now. She sighed. At this rate her mum would probably have to wait several more years, before she was going to tie the knot.
'I don't want to spent my entire life alone, but I'm not going to marry somebody I don't really love just because mum thinks it's time to do so!'
She didn't know, where this sudden anger came from. She thought of being the bridesmaid at Ginny and Harry's wedding. Ron would be best man.
The last wedding they had both attended had been when Neville Longbottom married Hannah Abbott. They had had a very long talk at this wedding, her and Ron. He had told her, that he loved her dearly, but over time it seemed to have become more the love to a sister rather than anything else. He had been rather embarrassed by this confession, but when Hermione told him, that she loved him more as a brother than a potential lover, they had both started laughing. They had been hugging for ages afterwards and now he was just her best friend, like Harry. Another sigh. Ron had married Lavender two month ago.
Her gaze fell onto the gently rocking figure in the corner. She smiled at him.
"Do you want to go and visit my cousin? My mum asked, if you would come as well, when I spoke to her this morning. I think, she is expecting us to pop round their house as well, so that she and dad can get a good look at you to be honest."
He didn't answer straight away.
"I would love to see your cousin."
She could hear him grin.
"If you go to visit, so do I. Part of my job description."
They both tried to avoid, to talk about the envelope , that had been sent to her. And what happened afterwards. They would need to talk about it, but now was not the right time.
Hermione put a light jacket on, he wrapped his cloak around himself and they left the house In her back garden she could see a large black patch on the lawn. She frowned, but didn't say anything.
She let him around the house and onto the little lane, that ran along it. She stopped for a moment and let him have a look to both sides. On the left there were three more houses and then the village ended. On the right hand side the street let to the village green. He could see a church and something, that must have been the pub. There was a shop that doubled as a post office.
"We are going to take the bus into the next town and then it is only a five minute walk to the hospital."
"Muggle transport? Wouldn't it be easier..."
His voice trailed off when he looked at her.
"Muggle transport it is."
The witch was walking on his arm. And to her astonishment enjoyed it. It was nice to walk through the village and for once nobody would suddenly remember some lonely nephew or cousin she should meet. People greeted Hermione and gave him the expected more or less hidden stares.
"I feel a bit silly." He confessed.
She laughed.
"We are in the Muggle world. Figures hiding in cloaks are a bit unusual round here."
"Oh, Miss Granger."
A middle aged woman was approaching them.
"Oh-oh!" Hermione groaned."Here comes the village gossip."
"I hope you have not forgotten..." she looked at the cloaked man at the young woman's side.
"Oh."
"Mrs. Jenson, this is Mr. Wilson."
"Mr. Wilson."
He bowed lightly. She seemed lost for words. Which was a first and Hermione savoured every moment of the encounter.
"I assume that he is..."
"Staying at my place? Yes, he is. Anything else would not really be practical for us, would it, dear?"
He smiled to himself. Dear...
"No. It would be very impractical indeed for us not living in the same house."
The older woman looked at him.
"And your..."
"His doctor has recommended he make sure his face is kept out of the sun for the moment as he is recovering from serious burns."
"Oh."
At this moment Hermione spotted the bus coming along the street.
"There is our bus Mrs Jenson,. Bye."
She pulled the wizard in the direction of the bus stop. He caught on immediately and they reached the stop at the same time as the bus.
She bought two tickets for them and he followed her to the rear of the vehicle.
"So, this is a bus?" He whispered.
"Yes. People, that need to get around and don't have private transport, are using them."
She watch him looking around.
'My first ever bus ride...'
He had the funny feeling, that there would be a lot of first times today.
The bus was slightly swaying whenever it rounded another bent on the country lanes. And there were a lot of bents. Hermione had noticed, that the man next to her had stopped surveying the other passengers, the bus' interior and the countryside. He was just sitting there very still and very rigid.
She took his hand. His head turned slightly to her just to very deliberately being swivelled back in its original position. Getting concerned she turned fully towards him.
"Is everything...?"
He very slowly shook his head.
"Are you feeling all right?"
Another slow shake. She thought for a moment. Was he travel sick? If he was, she needed to take care of it straight away. She cast several simple healing spell and felt him relax against her.
'Why didn't he say something?'
"We are going to get off at the next stop. It's only a few minutes away. Don't worry!"
He didn't worry. He was past worrying. He just felt sick. Like he had never felt sick in his entire life! He couldn't focus. He couldn't concentrate. He couldn't think. His stomach was in knots. Every new sway of the bus seemed to ignite a blinding firework of pain behind his eyes. He just held onto her hand for dear life. He would have never believed that Muggle transport was so dangerous!
Moments later he was let off the bus and sat on a bench at the bus stop. She sat next to him stroking his back gently.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't think, that you would get travel sickness."
"Don't worry." His voice was sounding hoarse.
But he could see in her face, that she worried. She blamed herself for getting him sick unnecessarily.
He heard her mutter a healing spell and after a moment the sick feeling subsided. He sighed and squeezed her hand tightly.
'I don't know enough about the Muggle world! And if a bus ride makes me sick like this, what else can happen?'
Not a very comforting thought. He had to live with her in this strange world. He had to protect her here. How could he do that, if even something so simple as a bus ride all but incapacitated him though? He groaned. It hurt his pride more than he would have ever dared to admit, that he felt so utterly useless right now. He had always been proud of his very good spell working. He had won duels against wizards older and more knowledgeable than him. And he also knew, that he could give any man a good hiding should the need arise.
"...apparate to my parents. I think, that will be safer for you."
He found her head was leaning on his shoulder. One of her hands on his back the other still holding his. The warmth of her body seemed to touch his skin even through all of their clothing. He leaned against her. Sighing.
'May this moment last forever!' He prayed.
She stirred, lifting her head. Gently. She had to really stop these smoochy... What? Situations? Feelings? She wasn't sure, but if she wanted to get this day over and him safely back home, they needed to get a grip of themselves!
"Sárkány? Time to go!" she whispered.
He looked at her. Her eyes were softly returning his gaze. He didn't really want to think about the fact, that she had just used the Hungarian form of his real name. His heart was pounding as it was and if he didn't got up this instance, he would be seriously loosing it and probably do something he would really come to regret.
He stood slowly up. Pulling her to her feet as well. While still holding onto her hand he started to look around. They were in a small town full of people. And nobody really paid any attention to them both.
"You think, you'll be okay now?"
He nodded.
"Please don't take me to places, where I can't protect you." He whispered.
"I'll try to remember. I am so sor...!"
His fingers silenced her. Softly.
"Let's go and visit your cousin."
She nodded, took his arm and let them along the street.
He had been at St. Mungo's and this Muggle hospital seemed to be working along the same lines. Even so he couldn't really make head nor tail of most of the things, he saw.
Hermione was looking on a large board listing all the different wards. Her hand firmly clasped his.
"She'll be in ward 12. That is that way."
He allowed her to lead him through the throngs of people everywhere. There was the moment when he wished, they would be back at her house. It would be close to impossible to prevent any attack here. It was not safe for her.
"Here we go." He heard her finally announce.
She pushed the door to the ward open. There were six beds, all hidden with colourful curtains from public view. The ward sister approached them and asked whom they wanted to visit. She gave the name of her cousin and they were shown to the bed in the left hand corner by the window.
He had just realised, that he had never come into close contact like this with a baby. He had grown up alone. And his extended family... He didn't want to think about them!
"...will be fine."
He looked at her. She had been talking to him. He had not been listening to her.
' Get a bloody grip of yourself, man!'
He watched how Hermione greeted her cousin with a careful hug and then bent over the little cot that stood next to the bed. She looked back at him. Her face was positively radiant. She was smiling openly at him, gesturing for him to come closer.
He hesitated.
"I don't want to frighten her." He stopped. "Is it her?"
Her smile was making her face glow as she nodded.
"She's asleep. You want frighten her."
So he came closer and saw a tiny face, eyes closed and relaxed, sticking out from underneath the blanket into which the small being had been tightly wrapped.
'Hm... How can it be so tiny?'
"Hermione?"
She looked up at her cousin and saw the concerned look on her face while observing the strange visitor. The witch smiled and sat next to her on the bed.
"Don't worry. I know, he looks a bit frightening in the moment, but that is just because he has to keep his face out off the light for the moment. His house burned down and he got injured."
"Oh! Is he okay?"
"Yes, yes, he is. But after people were starring at him all the time and his doctor advising him to keep his face covered for the time being, he has resorted to this strange kind of clothing."
"What's his name?"
'I wish, I knew...'
"Frank Wilson. We work in the same place."
On hearing his name the male standing lost next to the little human being looked up. His charge was gesturing him towards herself He stepped behind her and after a moment's hesitation lay his hands upon her shoulders. She didn't flinch, stiffen or shrunk back from his touch. To his utter surprise.
"Frank, this is Nina. Nina, this is Frank. He is staying with me at the moment until he finds another place to stay and his wounds have healed."
They shook hands. Nina smiled.
"Nice to meet you."
He bowed lightly. She giggled. He leant down and whispered in Hermione's ear "I'll be just staying in the background so that you two can have a chat."
She felt his hands slide from her shoulders and when she looked around a moment later, he seemed to have vanished. She tried to not let Nina see her concern, but she needn't have worried the other young woman was gently stroking the cheek of her sleeping daughter.
For the next hour they were lost to the world. Chatting, laughing and enjoying each others company. Then suddenly Nina asked "Is there something going on between you two?"
Hermione blushed slightly.
"Is there?" The tone of the question was hinting to the fact, that an affirmative was expected.
"I don't know."
"You don't know? How can that be? Either there is something going on between you two and from what I have seen of his body language everything speaks for it, or there is not."
The young witch pondered these words for a moment and then hesitantly stated, that there was a good chance of there being something in the future. When he wasn't wearing that cloak any longer. Nina didn't quite comprehend the reasoning behind this statement. What had his hidden face to do with anything? Did it really matter to her cousin, what he looked like when she genuinely cared for the man? And of course it wouldn't have mattered one little bit to Hermione, what he looked liked, if she really cared for him. But did she? Good question!
Draco meanwhile had been standing next to the window, enveloped by a Palloris spell which allowed him to seemingly fade into the background of his surrounding. He had also cast a Mufliato spell over the two women. He didn't want to hear, what they where talking about as he had the suspicion, that he would be featuring in this conversion.
He surveyed the ward. It was a rather quiet place. There were only the nurses, that checked on the other patients ever now and then. And some wiry looking woman, that spoke to three of them. She was wearing normal Muggle cloths not the uniform the nurses were all wearing.
And while still watching the woman he slowly slipped into the realm of sleep.
The Muggle woman had started to walk straight at him. He looked astonished at the approaching figure. How come she had noticed him? He should have been of no interest to her.
"Have you finally come to see your child?" She asked in a matter of fact tone of voice.
He blinked. His child?
"I am here visiting..." he stammered.
"Oh? And whom are you visiting?"
He pointed to the bed he knew Hernione's cousin to be. To his utter horror it was the young witch, that was sitting in the bed, holding a fair haired bundle in her arms.
"..."
She gripped his arms and shook him.
"Don't you dare desert her again!" The woman shriek.
"Frank!" Somebody called close to him.
The scene suddenly dissolved and he saw a rather troubled looking Hermione before him.
"Are you okay? It looked as if you had fallen asleep and then you went sort of rigid all of a sudden and started groaning."
He looked down at her. Soft, brown eyes clouded with concern were trying to survey his hidden face. He wrapped his arms and cloak around her, holding her close.
"I would never desert you! You know that, don't you?" he whispered into her hair.
"Of course I know that. Why would I think you would desert me?"
She could hear his heart beat furiously. Her finger gently stroked his sides. What had happened to him?
"You will be there for me as I will be there for you." Her voice was barely audible.
She gently kissed his heaving chest. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down. He would never ever again fail her! He had sworn his life to her.
He inhaled the scent of her hair, feeling her wrapping her arms around his midriff, her body pressed against him. His heartbeat slowly returned to normal. What had been happening? Did he just fall asleep?
She pulled slowly away from him. Her eyes searching his, but only finding hiding shadows. She sighed. He kissed the top of her head.
"Please be patient." He whispered into her ear before releasing her from his arms.
"And you are trying to tell me, that there is nothing going on between the two of you?" She heard her cousin saying. Gratification dripping from her voice with every word.
Hermione turned around only to see the face of her cousin saying it all. Whatever she would deny now, Nina wouldn't believe a single word she was saying. She sighed.
"He has trouble sleeping and mum woke him up this morning, because she was so excited about the baby. At 6 am! You have no idea about the nightmares that stalk his dreams, Nina."
She was actually defending him! Though it was true, that he had had trouble sleeping last night. And that dream he just had was more than a nightmare.
"Oh. Is it because of what happened?"
Hermione nodded.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." She hugged her cousin tightly. "It's not something you talk about to everybody, is it."
"No, not really."
The baby started to stir and Draco looked alarmed over to the cot. She was stretching her tiny fist out off the blanket. Yawing lazily. Her eyes opened and he looked into huge blue eyes.
He heard his witch giggle next to him.
"If she is able to mesmerise you at this age, what is she going to do to you, when she gets older?" She laughed.
He looked at her indignantly. Not that she would have been able to see it, though.
"You seem to think I'm a right push over." He scowled.
She stroked his arm, her gaze full of warmth.
"No, I would never think that!" She laughed. "I know!"
He forgot where they were and why, his hands just grabbed her, pulling her into his body. The ward filled with her laughter as he started to tickle her sides, without loosing his grip on her for a moment.
"Please stop! Stop!" She giggled.
He didn't stop. He ran his long fingers leisurely over her.
"Please!" She gasped as she was seriously out off breath by now.
"What is going on here? This is a hospital not an adult playground!"
Both there heads turned to the stern voice and saw a nurse in her fifties looking very disapproving at them.
"Sorry!" He muttered and released her.
"We are sorry, nurse."
She gave them a scowl Draco would have been proud of and then walk away.
"I think you two love birds better get out off here." Nina was saying. And the look she gave her cousin said all too clearly, that she expected her to visit these premises for a different reason in the not too far future.
Hermione hugged her, while having a last look at the baby, which had gone back to sleep.
She let him to the stairs, pushed the door open and then pulled him in after her.
"We'll apparate to my parents. I'm not risking another bus ride with you."
Without another word they apparated.
When he had gained his balance back they were standing next to a couple of bins, surrounded by an eight foot fence. She peeked around the corner and motioned him to follow her.
A/N: I was really struggling with this chapter - PLEASE review, I need some feedback...
