Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine. Neither is the sinfully attractive Draco Malfoy. Life can be so cruel...


Stretching, Hermione Granger rested back against her sofa. The living room was dimly lit and the fire from her fireplace casted a warm glow. The coffee table lay scattered with stacks of paper. This very scene would play out every night once she would return home from work.

She pressed her fingers to her forehead and tried to soothe the dull throb behind her temple. Her tiredness wearing her down steadily. The clock on the wall opposite of her, chimed ten o'clock. She simply shrugged her shoulders in irritation and rolled her eyes at the clock.

As though I can possibly not ignore late hour work!

The day didn't go well according to the brunette, neither as a Healer nor as a Ministry official. It did not keep pace with her expectations, not as a friend and definitely not as a foe. For goodness' sake, she was siding with her enemy! That was so out of character for her. Not that she enjoyed taking jabs at her enemies; it wasn't in her soul to actually support the needs of selfish pricks like Malfoy. Then again, she didn't really do it on some crazy impulse.

This Malfoy although was very much similar to the one she had encountered daily at Hogwarts was somehow different. Physically he had undergone changes, well then so had she and the rest of the people who went with her to school.

Yet the changes were not limited to his looks. Malfoy like his usual self was snappy and rude but underneath all the hate and coldness she could sense something else. He was hurt and tormented. His eyes betrayed his entire icy exterior. Truth was written all over his molten mercury eyes.

She saw fear. Not for himself as she had seen on several occasions when they were children, but fear for others. In this case, fear for his mother.

He seemed beyond worried; his concern for his mother has driven him to act most unnaturally. Something Ron would define as going bonkers! Yet being the ever biased prat, Ron continued to turn a blind eye to Malfoy's evident state of mental unrest.

She sat up from her reclined position and bent over to fetch the cup of hot tea from the table. Curling up her legs up on the sofa, she leaned back again, sipping at her tea, she stared into the flames of the fireplace.

She could not believe that, barely within a day's time, she encountered such a dramatic change of plans. Never did she imagine that Malfoy would end up as a mental patient, much less under her own care.

What surprised her even more was how easily she has taken to Malfoy's condition. If someone had told her about such circumstances to her even a few days ago, she would have told that person to bugger off!

Yet this was very real, and whether she liked it or not, she had made some impromptu decisions.

And really well they have fared so far! Hermione thought grumpily. Her eyes wandered to the stack of papers once more, and her thoughts backtracked onto the case once again. Malfoy seemed to be heading nowhere with the case. He is neither helping nor making it worse, but his absurd notions are making her confused as hell, if not anything else.

There must be something I'm missing! Maybe I'm looking at the situation wrong or something!

She reached over to pick up her patient's file, and began to browse through the pages, while she sipped on her tea.

Symptoms recorded so far, are of delirium and violence. Patient has been observed, talking to himself about failing his mother and taking revenge upon one, Bellatrix Lestrange repeatedly. He shows signs of violence and…

He is convinced; she is out there, hurting his mother. Talk about raving mad! How can he expect anyone to believe him? It's preposterous!

Bellatrix had been killed during the battle. It was a triumphant moment before the ensuing victory of the light side over the dark.

Several of us saw Bellatrix hit the ground, dead. So what makes Malfoy so certain that she is alive? Surely she can't be back from the dead? Gods I can't take anymore of this!

A sudden tapping sound drew her attention, and she saw an owl right outside one of the windows. She hurriedly reached forward and let the owl in. Untying the letter from its legs, she opened it to read with rapt attention.

Healer Granger,

This is to inform you, that Patient Draco Malfoy, of Ward 7 has been refusing both food and water. He had attempted to escape through his room's window, but suffered a fall with minor injuries. The healers on duty have tended to him and he has been subdued with a Sleeping Draught.

As you are his personal Healer, authorities deemed it important to inform you about the event. We request your presence in the morning as soon as possible, as the patient seems to remain unresponsive and uncooperative.

Regards,

Healer Tulip Turner

Criminally Insane Prisoner Division

Azkaban

Hoot! The abrupt call of the bird startled the woman, and she let the letter fall to the ground. She quickly fed the owl a treat which on accord flew away when it received no reply letter from the still upset looking woman.

Picking up the letter and keeping it aside, she rushed to the fireplace, and called on Harry via Floo.

A much harrowed looking Harry appeared in his pajamas. He took a seat before the fireplace and peered at her through drooping eyelids.

"Hermione, what is it? Did something happen?" asked Harry trying his best to fight his drowsiness.

"It's Malfoy, he is being difficult," said Hermione in a tired tone.

Harry shifted in his seat and prepared himself for the worst. Hermione could understand that Harry was becoming tense.

Harry never did well with stress, thought Hermione pitifully.

"It is nothing alarming, Harry. I thought I should let you know. I wasn't planning on disturbing you so late."

"Harry?" a feminine voice spoke up and out appeared a bemused looking Ginny in a bright blue nightgown. She stepped forward, and saw Hermione's face in the fireplace.

"Hermione? Is everything all right?"

Smiling softly at her closest female friend, Hermione said, "It's nothing Ginny. I'm sorry for waking you both up so late but I just needed to say a few words about our case".

"Oh Hermione, don't you ever get any rest? There is life beyond the Ministry too, you know," complained Ginny.

"I just need to talk to Harry for a few minutes. Then he is all yours," said Hermione, smiling cheekily at her friend.

"Huh! Didn't you know, Hermione? Mr. Potter here is nothing short of a workaholic himself. He rather write reports on some lunatic criminal than spend some time with me," Ginny said angrily.

Harry rolled his eyes and said, "Ginny, I don't always do that. You know that was an important assignment. I couldn't make time for you that day, because I had a deadline to meet!"

"You didn't come home until half past eleven in the night! I had already grew tired of waiting for you!"

"And for the millionth time, I'm sorry darling. I would try my best for it not to happen again"

Growing increasingly uncomfortable, Hermione finally spoke up, "umm…I guess I shouldn't have bothered you two at such an hour. Really sorry, Gin. I best talk with Harry in the morning".

"Oh nonsense, Mione! I know you wouldn't have called on Harry if it weren't important. You two get to it. I'm dead tired so let me get back to bed." said Ginny.

Hermione smiled softly at her and said, "Good night, Gin."

"You too Hermione," said Ginny before she treaded back to the bed for her sleep.

Harry seemed to have forgotten Hermione's presence momentarily, as his eyes strayed back to the bed.

A small smile played upon his lips as he saw Ginny lie down with a huff before fluffing her pillows. Hermione had never been the sort to feel envious of anyone, but at that moment she fought to suppress the uneasy feeling of jealousy within her.

During her tumultuous relationship with Ron, she was barely ever on the receiving end of such affection. There were more of scathing looks than loving glances. In that moment, as she saw Harry look wistfully at the sleeping form of Ginny, she realized how alone she was.

Stop it Hermione! You can't go thinking about that of all things now! You have a more urgent matter at hand!

Shaking her head to drive away her self-pitying thoughts, she focused her attention on Harry. Hermione cleared her throat and tried to grab Harry's attention. As if realizing for the first time that Hermione was there, he sat up with a jolt.

His green eyes looked at her with embarrassment and he whispered apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Mione! I kept you waiting long enough. Let me floo you back from the living room. I can't afford to disturb Gin anymore."

Hermione shook her head once more and cut off the floo call. She put aside her empty cup and got up briskly and began organizing the papers. She was barely halfway through her task when the flames of the fireplace burned bright as the floo network was activated again.

"Yes, so what happened to Malfoy?" asked Harry suddenly reappearing in the floo network, as he adjusted his glasses.

"A hello would have sufficed" said the brunette with a smile and continued, "I got a letter from the Criminally Insane Prisoner Division a while back. It stated that Malfoy had tried to make an escape through the window only to fall and injure himself. He also hasn't been eating or drinking. They want me to visit him tomorrow."

Hermione chose her words carefully, trying not to alert Harry anymore than he already was.

Harry somberly said, "I realize with every passing second, that I shouldn't have put the ferret under your supervision. It is asking too much of you, when I of all people am most aware about your history with him."

"It is fine, Harry. Every other psychologically unstable patient acts this way. Malfoy is no exception. I just needed to inform you about this because you are leading this case."

"Yes, and that makes me all the more responsible for your safety. I can't allow you to be in such close proximity with him. If he indeed has lost his mind then it gives me ample reason to keep you away from him."

Hermione's eyes darkened and she dug her heels in as she said, "Harry you are not the only one responsible here. I have taken up this case as a part of my work and I, myself decided to put him under my supervision. If you do not have faith in me to perform my job, then you shouldn't trust me on any given work hereafter."

Harry exhaled in defeat, "Mione, I'm not doubting your skills. I'm just worried about you. As I have been on countless occasions" said Harry sounding dejected.

"I am sorry, Harry. This is something new I'm facing in my career. Never imagined I would be in such a situation…" said Hermione.

"That's what I had-"

"No, Harry let me finish. I'm not saying that this situation isn't difficult. I'm saying this is something that is new as well, and new means a challenge. Something to tackle and prove myself with. After my personal life going downhill, I really need something going right in my life. And this case just might be it."

Harry kept quiet the entire time. His face, a mask of serenity. Hermione tried to keep a straight face but she could barely sit still. The lethargy she kept feeling all this while seemed to have vanished with her confession.

The seconds of silence that passed by seemed like hours to her, as she felt more and more self-conscious about her pitiful confession.

Finally Harry said, "It is alright, Mione. I completely understand your situation. I'm not asking anything from you, other than you to be just careful. That is all, and trust me I have full faith in you. You are the brightest witch of our age after all."

Smirking at her friend, she said, "at least you got the last part right."

"I'm sure I did with the rest of it too. You just need to believe in yourself and your cause. I'm sure everything else will fall into place thereafter," said Harry with a smile.

Hermione felt warm at the sincerity in Harry's words, and as she looked towards the clock, she realized how late it was.

"Oh, well you better get back to bed, else we will not hear the end of it from Gin," said Hermione, sitting upright. Harry nodded and with a goodbye his face diminished from the flames. Once their floo call was over, Hermione finished arranging the papers and prepared herself for bed.

After she had dressed herself in her nightwear, she plopped onto her bed, exhausted. Curling up beneath the covers, her tired muscles began to relax. Yet it was not so with her mind. Having had a tiresome day, her mind kept playing the images of the day's events in her mind, repeatedly.

Trying to drive away these images, she turned left and right on her sides, willing herself to ignore the thoughts. She tossed and turned for several more minutes before she gave up with a huff. Her mind just won't let her ignore the thoughts swimming about in her head.

Merlin, it is half past eleven, will I ever get some sleep?

Yet, she knew the answer all too well. Harry's words although had given her strength, they had brought about doubts too. He seemed to be having faith in her much too easily for her comfort. She could not afford to mess things up, knowing that he has put all his eggs in her basket.

She feared letting him down, and at this stage in life, she could not bear anymore losses. Her parents after having their memories modified were still in Australia. She had tried to contact them, but they didn't recognize her. Although she expected this response from them, it did not hurt any less. Then there was Ron to make things worse for her.

All she had left was Harry and the Weasleys to call her own. All her losses had her feeling worthless and insignificant. She felt that she was no more the Hermione Granger in her teens. She was nothing but a shadow of her former self.

Her work was her sanctuary. It kept all her loneliness and personal problems at bay. Her work would keep her mind off these things. This time her work itself has presented her with an opportunity to face what she had running away from.

Who knows, this Malfoy case just might be the sort of thing I need right now.

This very thought, nagged her conscious, and she began to doubt her decision once again. Things haven't actually gone according to plan since Malfoy's entry. Yet, she can't turn her back on someone, whom she could clearly see needed her help.

Yes, all that I need to do is believe in myself. Just as Harry does.

Then again, she could not believe in her decision without believing on the person she has to deal with.

As Harry's words echoed in her head, she grew increasingly apprehensive, "You just need to believe in yourself and your cause." It was clear as day, that her cause was Malfoy himself. Believing in him meant believing in his version of the truth as well. Outrageous as his notions were, Hermione had to believe in them in order to approach him.

Therefore to make things go according to plan she needed to understand him. To know Malfoy, would thus mean to believe in him. Although it would be absurd, she needed to do it. Believing in him would also help a troubled individual like him to trust her. As Shakespeare had expressed in Henry VI, "Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair."

Giving him light and comfort are the key ingredients in establishing a more civil relationship with him. According to that she would carry out her ideas, and help solve the case.

Relaxing against her pillows, she began to feel her eyes droop. Her mind held onto some final musings before sleep took over.

How bad can it get? I have been let down by people I considered close to me, like Ron. I'm sure it can't be worse with Malfoy.

Exhaling a deep breath, she felt more at peace. Her mind was made up. She had fought Death Eaters, hunted Horcruxes and had faced the deadliest of creatures the Wizarding World had to offer. One blond man can't possibly be the end of her.

As her eyes finally fluttered close and she delved into a deep sleep, she failed to recognize one flaw in her decision. To believe in one truly, one needs to believe with all their heart. The truth was that when the heart is brought into the equation, it would complicate things beyond one's assumptions. It would leave a greater imprint on her than all her battle scars.

A truth she would discover sooner than later with the certain silver eyed man.


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