Nope, I'm still not J.K. Rowling, and I still don't own Harry Potter

That night passed without any word from Malfoy. For some reason, I found myself sincerely disappointed. Nonetheless, I went to bed early. I was exhausted.


The following day, I was up and back to work as usual.

"It's Friday!" I announced to Andrea upon arrival.

"That it is," she responded, smiling broadly. "Any big plans for this weekend?"

Ignoring the glint in her eye, I just shrugged. "None as of yet," I replied. "What about you?"

"Oh," she said, "I'm sure my bloke will think of something to make it... memorable." She rolled her eyes at the end of her sentence, and I laughed with her.

"Well," I said, "have a good day, and I hope your weekend goes well."

"You too," she responded, turning back to her desk.

Laylan's list looked no different, so I continued on my way.

"Hey girl," I heard a voice call as I passed a room.

"Yes?" I responded, poking my head in to find Generva seated in a chair, looking at me expectantly. I smiled at her and conjured her water for her.

She smiled back, and I turned to leave.

"Hey, hold on a minute there," she said, her old voice in a slight drawl. I imagined she must have been very well-off in her younger days.

"Yes?" I asked again.

"I want to show you something," she said, motioning me over to her.

"Sure," I replied, coming farther into the room.

She held a photo out to me. In it, there was a beautiful woman with curly brown hair and dark brown eyes. She wore a beautiful, white wedding gown with a bouquet of flowers in her hands. She smiled peacefully as a young man in a tuxedo with blond hair and light brown eyes held her tightly. She turned in his arms, and they kissed within the frame.

"It's beautiful," I remarked, taking the frame from her to get a closer look. As I handed it back, she had tears glistening in her eyes.

"That's my Marty," she said softly, wiping her tears away. "He was such a good husband, more than I ever could have asked for." I conjured a handkerchief and handed it to her. She smiled at me as she took it and continued. "He died a few years ago, of a heart attack."

I nodded, not sure of what to say.

The old woman sighed. "They all want to talk about all those wizarding illnesses and such, but my Marty died of heart failure, just like a muggle. Then they all want to find out what's wrong with me, but it doesn't take a genius to figure it out."

I looked at her questioningly.

"Well, it's heartache," she said simply. "Just can't go on without him, that's all."

I nodded again, still unsure of what to say. "Thank you for showing me," I finally said softly.

"Well, of course," she said again in her curt way.

She smiled softly and looked into the space just above my right shoulder. I imagined she was thinking of him.

"You'd best be off," she said suddenly, her eyes meeting mine. "Don't want to keep your other patients waiting."

"Very true," I responded, standing straight again. "You have a good day, Generva."

"You too," she said. Then, "You know what?"

"What's that?" I asked.

A corner of her mouth turned up in a half smile. "You're not half bad."

I smiled immediately. "You're not half bad, either," I responded.

She was smiling again as I left the room.


My heart again fluttered in my chest as I approached Malfoy. I wasn't sure why I was so flustered by him all of the sudden, but I supposed the answer didn't really matter. I just knew I was.

"Hey," I said as I approached him.

"Morning," he drawled.

I wanted to say something to make the moment less awkward, but my mind drew a complete blank. The potions appeared on my tray, and I just smiled.

"Thanks," I said.

"It's my job," he replied, turning away.

I wondered if he got the same fluttery feeling I did. I doubted it.


"Herminy!" came Clarissa's voice as I entered her room.

I smiled broadly at the little girl and approached her for my hug. "You're such a good hugger," I said.

She giggled in response. "Potion time?"

"Yep," I replied, handing it to her.

She swallowed it all in one gulp and smiled at me. "How are you?" she asked politely.

"I'm doing okay, and yourself?"

"I'm okay," she replied.

"Feeling any better today?" I asked, almost warily.

"Well," she said with a thoughtful look, "not really."

I suppressed my sigh.

"It's just that I want to feel better today." When I didn't seem to get it, she added, "You know, so I act more like it. I figure if I act like it, I just might feel like it."

I shook my head in disbelief. "And you're sure you're only six years old?"

She giggled and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well," I said, touching my hand to her arm lightly, "that's a very grown-up way to think about things."

She shrugged, beaming. "Then I guess I'm just all grown up."

I laughed. "I guess so," I said, deciding to humor her.

"Time for your other patients?" she asked.

"I think so," I replied.

"Okay," she said. "Have a good day."

"You too, Sweetheart," I responded. "I'll see you on Monday, okay?"

"Yep," she said. "Monday."

I didn't tell her I hoped she'd still feel just as well by then.


"So any contact from Draco?" was Gloria's first question at lunch.

"No," I replied simply.

"Hm," she said, her brow furrowing just a bit. "Well I could tell he was interested."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "Somehow I'm doubtful," I said softly.

"Oh," she said, pushing my arm in a joking manner, "he's interested."

When I still didn't buy it, she added, "Trust me."

I just shrugged and continued eating my lunch.


The rest of my day was more of the same. Since Laylan didn't have a note for me, though, I didn't see Malfoy again.

I couldn't help but wonder what had made Andrea so sure, but I decided to just forget about it. It looked like it was me and my muggle movie night just like every Friday.

I went home with just a bit less excitement for the weekend.


I was all settled in with my popcorn just in time to hear a tap on my window.

Sighing, I stood to go to it. A beautiful white owl was perched on the windowsill, cooing softly at me. A small piece of parchment was tied to its leg, so I opened the window to let it in.

It landed gracefully on my shoulder and held out its leg for me. I took the parchment, and it flew off to the window, perching itself to wait for my response.

I opened the letter, reading its contents quickly.

Granger,

Dinner tonight?

Malfoy

My heart jumped in my chest. There wasn't much on the parchment, but at least it was something. Smiling, I took out my quill to scrawl a response.

Malfoy,

Sure. What time and where?

Granger

I tied the parchment back to the owl's leg and it hooted softly, taking flight into the evening air.

I left the window open and sat myself on the couch to wait for a response.


A/N: Hey all, again, the response will need to come in the next chapter. I don't usually have time to make them very long. Let me know what you thought of this one. Thanks!