Draco groaned as he cracked an eye open. His head was pounding, and his mouth tasted like he had eaten a dead cat. He clinched his fists against the wave of nausea that made itself apparent. He winced when the paper in his hand crinkled, much more loudly than it should have been able to.
"Kreacher." The man mumbled quietly. He flinched when the elf popped into the room.
"Master Draco."
"Hangover potion. Water."
"Yes sir." The elf left using the door, sparing Draco's throbbing head. After a moment, the door opened again. Draco raised his head and glared at the man standing there through slitted eyes.
"I've gotten you this week off. Unfortunately they are adding it to the end of your sentence. You have time to grieve, but if I find you in a drunken stupor again, I won't hesitate to report your arse to your probation officer." Harry spoke quietly. Kreacher came back and handed Draco a vial of potion, and a bottle of water. Draco downed both of them and lay still while the potion took effect. Once he could open his eyes fully, without the sunshine feeling like a thousand burning needles, he looked at Harry fully.
"I hear you. No more liquor. At least not while grieving." Draco dragged himself of the bed and went to his bathroom door. "Thanks for getting me off the floor." Harry nodded, and left the room, leaving the door open. Draco sighed, and entered the bathroom. He glanced in the mirror and froze when he saw how awful he looked. He brought a hand up to his face, to pause when he realized he was still holding a piece of paper. He unfolded it, and started to read. He smiled, but his face fell when he realized that her note was written on a piece of his paper. Which meant she had been in his room. Probably while he was blacked out. He stared at the letter for a moment, before deciding that she had ample opportunity to hurt him already, and since she hadn't, she probably wouldn't. He set the paper on the counter, and turned on the shower. He shrugged out of his clothes, and stepped under the stinging spray. He let the water beat down on him while he let his mind wander. When he was clean, and freshly shaven, he stepped back into his room. He went to close the door, and noticed the heavenly smell of frying bacon. With a slight smile, he shrugged into some jeans, and a shirt that Harry had brought him. He went down the stairs and stuck his head in the kitchen. He saw Ginny standing at the stove, wearing a frilly apron, poking at something in a pan.
"I didnt have you pegged for the frilly apron type Weasley." She turned and looked at him.
"I'm not. It was a gag gift from Ron. How do you like your bacon?"
"You dont need to cook for me."
"Nonsense. You need someone to fuss over you, at least this week." He just stared at her. "Dont look at me like that. I know I'm not the fussy type. Look at it like I'm practicing. I do want children someday." Her face was flaming by the end of her speech, and she turned back to the stove with a huff. Draco sat down at the table just as Harry came in.
"Oh good. The corpse has arisen, and looks much cleaner. How about you tell me what all they told you at the ministry. I heard a little of what was happening, but since I'm still a junior Auror, they didnt tell me much." Draco winced, and looked at the man. Ginny turned around and hit him in the head.
"Use some tact Harry. He might not want to talk yet." Draco smiled a bit at Ginny's defense of him.
"It's okay. I'll tell you a bit. Basically they told me that she died, leaving me in control of the entire estate. The ministry is holding everything until my sentence is complete. Oh, and apparently, my house burned down." Ginny turned and looked at him funny for a moment. She shrugged and turned back to her bacon.
Hermione,
Your right you know. This morning I felt worse than I had after the night I out drank Goyle at the last Slytherin House party. I will fulfill your condition next week, after I am back at work. Harry got me a few days off so I could deal with the estate and all that. I have a funeral to plan, and I found that I do have some relatives to notify. Apparently, my mother still had a sister living, but I'm sure you already knew that, as you were the one to repair the tapestry. Oh, and I thought we were past name calling you bloody know it all. Anyways, I just...
Thank you.
Draco Malfoy
Mione,
He's too detached. I don't think we've send the end of self destructive behavior. We should really keep an eye on him.
Harry
Hermione read both of her letters, beginning with Harry's she frowned until she read Draco's. She couldn't help but smile with that one. She wondered just how often he'd told someone thank you and truly meant it. Sitting down to her desk, Hermione pulled out a quill and piece of parchment.
Harry,
I do not think that he is as detached as you may believe. As for the self-destructive behavior, do not worry too much about that. I will talk to him. I have a feeling I may be able to help him. We shall just have to wait and see.
Mione
Setting aside the response for Harry, the witch pull out another piece of parchment and started on Draco.
Draco,
You are more than welcome, and you just worry about fulfilling your conditions when you are feeling more up to it. If you need any help with any of this, I'd be more than happy to give you a hand, as I'm sure Harry would as well. Please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything.
My condolences,
Hermione
Hermione sent both of the letters out, then went and lay back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, thoughts of Draco beginning to take over her once Ron obsessed thoughts
Harry read the note from Hermione with a skeptical eye. He tucked it into his desk drawer. He knew she was probably right, but he wasnt ready to let Draco off that easy. He had seen the way the boy had reacted to stress before, and he didnt want to be responsible for not catching the signs if Draco did blow a gasket.
Draco spent the next three days flooing between the ministry and the funeral home. The auror had found a fireproof safe while investigating the curse that had burned down the manor. In it was his mother's burial instructions, a dress that she had packed away with a shrinking charm, and a letter for him. He had set the letter aside to read after the funeral.
Hermione,
I am burying mother this weekend. I am not entirely sure how many people will attend, but I'm hoping that her sister sees the need to say goodbye. Harry said he would go, but I havent heard word from anyone else. I found her instructions, so planning wasnt as difficult as I thought it would be. She even had a dress packed away that she wanted to be buried in. I thought you would like to know that none of the House Elves were injured in the fire, and that my mother's will stipulated that they all be freed. They were not to happy, but I got them all placed at Hogwarts, so they will be taken care of. Anyways, I promised to keep you updated, so I am.
Draco
Hermione swallowed at the lump that had formed inside her throat while she was on the phone. She sighed as she hung up and then read Draco's letter. As soon as she had finished, she set it aside and then called Harry on his cell.
"Hello?"
"Alright, Harry?"
"Alright, you?"
"I'm okay, I was wondering something though."
"What can I do for you 'Mione?"
"When is the funeral? He never said he wanted me there, but I feel that I should be there just in case he needs me."
"I'm not entirely sure, but I will let you know when I find out more."
They talked for a few more minutes before hanging up and she sat down to respond to her letter from Draco. Hermione read over his letter again and smiled. She doubted that he noticed it, but he was changing, and she was willing to bet that so was his opinion of her. Just that thought alone was enough to cause her heart to hammer in her chest. That was an odd reaction. It couldn't have anything to do with him, she mused. Perhaps she should go and get her heart checked out. Perhaps too much stress was catching up to her.
Draco,
I am so sorry for this weekend. If you need to talk, I am here for you. It sounds as though she wanted to make this as easy for you as possible. I appreciate you being kind to the house elves. Well I talked to Ron earlier. He was being a bloody thick headed tosser, and thought that I might have gone round the bend. He actually asked me to give him another chance. I couldn't believe my ears! Ronald Weasley wanted me back! What do you think got into him, I wonder? I have to go, I have things to take care of.
Take care of yourself,
Hermione
