Disclaimer: I do not own anything!

A/N: Sorry for the slight delay, dearies, but here's chapter ten! Thank you to all those who reviewed, favorited, and followed. They were all greatly appreciated, really :)

Also, to clear some misunderstandings from last chapter, I think I didn't emphasize enough that Hermione wasn't on speaking terms with the Weasleys. If you recall on the first chapter, when Draco asked her why she didn't leave Rose to the Weasleys instead, he recalled how Molly and Ginny blamed Hermione for Ron's death. More about that in the future chapters, but yeah, that's generally the gist why Hermione reacted that way when Ginny was mentioned during a conversation. I hope that cleared up some confusion!

Huge thank you to my beta EmmaAWason98!

Without further ado, here's chapter ten! I hope y'all enjoy it :)

Chapter Ten: The Hospital Visit

"Draco."

Draco sighed and looked up from his desk. Granger stood on the threshold, a small smile on her face. 'Like mother, like daughter,' he thought with a sneer. If it wasn't blasted Rose who was bothering him, Hermione Granger easily took her place.

"What now?" he grumbled, sifting through the reports he had to write, edit, and mail. The paperwork was endless; he really hated the Malfoy business. "I said I can't be disturbed for the day."

Three companies he was affiliated with were facing bankruptcy and if Draco didn't work hard to draft a contingency plan, one-eighth of the Malfoy wealth would be severely affected. He was still a prideful man and he did not want to be known to be the 'Malfoy that lost one-eighth of the family's riches'. Although serving Voldemort had been quite expensive, Lucius Malfoy was a very intelligent, business-minded man. Draco could not, for the life of him, understand how his father was still able to fill their vaults despite the Dark Lord's lavish reign of terror. The Muggle companies most likely contributed to their continued riches. He suspected corruption was at play too, but Draco doubted he could even stomach doing what his father did.

"Yes, I've heard," the brunette said. "But, I think it isn't right to still skip breakfast. It's the important meal after all."

Before he could protest, Hermione already called for Tippy. His house elf popped instantly with a small tray at hand. Draco refused to show that he was actually quite hungry while Tippy placed a plate of pancakes drenched with maple syrup on his table and a cup of coffee.

"So, you order around my house elf now?" he drawled, quirking a blond eyebrow. Tippy quickly disappeared and Hermione was affronted.

"I do not order him around!" she protested. "I requested him to bring you one."

He flippantly waved his hand. "Technicalities," he said, nonchalantly grabbing a fork and slicing through the mouth-watering breakfast.

"Trust Draco Malfoy to answer snark to my kindness," she answered with a glare.

Draco lightly smirked and lifted his head to look at her once more. "Oh, did I hurt your little Gryffindor heart?" he cajoled, amused at how she bristled with his comment.

"We're not in Hogwarts anymore, honestly," Hermione huffed, crossing her arms against her chest. "We can't forever label each other based on our Houses before."

"But I'll always be a Slytherin through and through." Draco mockingly placed a hand on his heart. "And you will always be a true, bleeding Gryffindor, Granger."

Hermione made a huge show of rolling her eyes. "Prat. I don't even know why I put up with you."

His smirk morphed into a full-blown grin. Their banter was reminiscent of their time together as partners for missions. At first, there was hostile energy between the two, as expected from a known Pureblood, Slytherin bigot, and a know-it-all, bossy Gryffindor. But somehow, as they started to trust each other, to save each other's back, hostility turned into tolerance. Tolerance turned into reluctant acquaintance. After all, if Hermione did not trust him, he wouldn't be taking care of Rose in the first place.

"If you're done being a bother, you may now leave," he said, waving her off again.

"Wait, I actually came here to give you something." Hermione rummaged in her pockets and pulled out an envelope. "A letter came for you but since you weren't at breakfast a while ago…"

Draco glanced at the letter and blanched at the familiar St. Mungo's seal on it. Instantly, he grasped the letter from her hands and tore it open.

He silently read the letter, his heart dropping to his stomach once he had finished.

"Draco?" she asked, worry in her voice. "Is everything all right?"

He swallowed the dreadful lump in his throat and looked at her. He might have looked bad because her worry increased ten-fold.

"My… err…" He cleared his throat, willing the shakiness to subside. "My mother has been brought to St. Mungo's."

She gasped. "Is she alright?" she softly asked.

Draco released a soft, hollow chuckle and stood up from his seat. Blast the reports and the one-eight loss the Malfoy fortune might suffer. If his mother died today, Draco wouldn't have any use with the money.

"I'm going to St. Mungo's," he hastily said, grabbing his robe and wearing it. "I might not come back for dinner today. Please tell Tippy."

"Let me come with you," she volunteered, taking a step forward. When he looked at her in surprise, she shifted her eyes away. "I… I don't think you have to be alone today, Draco."

His mouth dried with her words, but he still shook his head. "No, no, you're still weak from the curse," he protested. "Besides, who will take care of Rose?"

"I'm fine now, really," she interjected. "I've rested for days and, well, we can bring Rose? I think I can manage to take care of her while we are there."

Draco looked away, his jaw tightening. "I don't want to be a bother, Granger," he gruffly said. His eyes widened, however, when Hermione caught his hand and forced him to look at her.

"I mean it, Draco," she firmly said. "You shouldn't be alone today."

He took a sharp intake of breath, a myriad of emotions swirling in his heart, before finally nodding his head. "Okay," he whispered.

Hermione gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Okay," she echoed.

They arrived in St. Mungo's and Draco was in a daze. Hermione kept on giving him worried looks, which he did not notice. Rose, sensing the blond's distress, had resolutely held his hand as they walked through the white corridors of the hospital and hadn't said a word.

Hermione quickly asked the receptionist where the Lady Malfoy was staying. The witch eyed her with surprise; after all, how could she not recognise Hermione Granger, the most celebrated War Heroine of their age? It was admittedly suspicious to see her, with her daughter, and the mute Malfoy all together, but Hermione had no time for gossip right now.

"The room, please," she snappily said, eyes slightly narrowing at the receptionist's gawking.

"Fourth floor, Room 406, miss," the younger witch hastily replied, glancing sheepishly at the brunette.

Hermione turned to Draco and Rose. "Come on," she said. "Room 406."

Draco emotionlessly strode forward while the young girl glanced at him worriedly. Hermione sighed, and followed them up to the lift.

Throughout their small journey, Hermione could not help but feel a little sympathy for Draco. If he only loved one person in the world, she knew, without a doubt, that she would be Narcissa.

Defecting had never been easy for him. After all, he had caused the infiltration of Hogwarts and almost killed Dumbledore. Most members had doubted his change of heart. Heck, even Hermione did not buy his promise to help the Light Side win. He, together with Theodore Nott, had been isolated for a week in a room in Grimmauld Place, spells and potions bombarded their way to finally reveal their true intentions.

But then, a week passed, and their intentions remained to be pure. McGonagall and Shacklebolt, leaders of the Order of the Phoenix after Dumbledore's passing, finally gave them their first assignment, despite the protest of the others.

Hermione remembered cornering him one time, after finally being released from isolation. She remembered his weariness, but determination. She remembered the stubborn refusal to listen to the taunts of the others. But most of all, she remembered the flicker of remorse in his eyes, and she couldn't help but demand him what his true intentions were.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she harshly asked, eyes glinting in the dark corridor in Grimmauld Place. "I don't believe in the crap McGonagall said about you being good."

"I don't need to prove myself to you, Granger," he bit back, making a move to stride to his designated room he shared with Nott.

But Hermione wasn't done. She grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her once more. "What is your true intention for defecting?"

He stared at her wordlessly for ages, stormy eyes conflicted with a myriad of emotions Hermione could not put a name on. And then, jaw tightening, eyes resolute, he pulled his hand away, and answered, "I want to protect the person I love."

It was during their reluctant partnership in missions when Hermione came to realize it was Narcissa Malfoy he had wanted to protect. After Lucius' death, she found out that his mother had fallen ill, heart too weak and grieving. No amount of magic could cure a broken heart, and Hermione suspected hers were already too broken beyond repair.

Her thoughts were brought back to the present when they finally arrived, and it was Hermione who opened the door. She felt a lump forming in her throat at the sight of the frail woman lying on the hospital bed, encased in a blue and white light. Hermione had learned about Healership for a while during the war, knowing that some simple knowledge would help her and her friends in missions. She knew the blue light showed Narcissa's vital signs; the light white, with runes, were there to stabilize Narcissa. Briefly looking at his mother's vital signs, her condition didn't look good.

Draco immediately strode forward and grasped Narcissa's thin hand. Hermione felt her eyes burn, but knew that he needed some time alone with his ill mother.

"Rosie," she called, and looked down at her daughter. The child had a pout of her face, and her eyes were wide with worry. "Let's go to the fifth floor. I heard they have some delicious hot cocoa there."

Her daughter looked conflicted for a while, eyes still staring at Draco. "But Mama," she whispered. "Draco looks sad. He needs some hot cocoa too to cheer him up."

Hermione warmly smiled and carried Rose in her arms. "All right, we'll bring him some, too," she promised. "He needs some time alone with his mother first, okay? We'll be back soon."

Rose sadly looked at Draco before finally nodding her head.

She glanced at the mother and son with sadness in her eyes, before finally closing the door.

"It's getting worse, isn't it?"

Draco did not need to look at Healer Matthews to know the answer to his question. The last time he discussed his mother's health with the healer, Narcissa was doing fine. Although stable, she wasn't getting well either. But then, when the news broke that she was rushed to the hospital after collapsing in her gardens, this did not bode well for him.

She was getting worse.

"I've ran additional tests just to make sure," the healer said, prompting Draco to finally look up at him. Healer Matthews looked grim and Draco regretted looking at him. "Her mind… I apologize for not being able to look for any cure yet."

He sincerely looked frustrated and disappointed with himself. Draco did not have the heart to burst out in anger when he had been witness to Healer Matthews efforts.

"We… we have to discuss possible outcomes now, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco almost marveled himself for keeping his anger in check, but then, he could not accept this. Whipping his head so fast with eyes blazing in fury, he glared darkly at the healer, his efforts be damned. The older wizard merely looked at him coolly, having handled far worse patients - much less loved ones - in the past.

"If it means I have to exhaust all the Malfoy fortune to cure my mother, then I will gladly do so," he barked, balling his hands into fists.

"Mr. Malfoy…"

"No," he growled. "I refuse to think of any other possible outcomes than curing my mother, you understand me?"

Healer Matthews took a deep breath and sadly looked at Draco. "We have been trained not to give false hopes, Draco," he said, weary lines appearing on his forehead. The blond looked away, unable to listen to him any further. "Lady Malfoy is tired. The mental and emotional damage she went through during the War may have damaged her. Lucius' death might have been the last straw."

"Shut up!" he exclaimed, quickly standing up from the chair he was sitting. "Shut the bloody hell up! If you have nothing more to say, then I suggest you fucking leave."

The healer looked highly affronted at being insulted, but Draco did not care. He refused to believe whatever he said. He refused to believe that his mother was beyond saving and could not recognise him anymore. He had spent many countless nights, trying to research on how to bring her mother back. He had spent quite a fortune just to give her the latest potion, to try out the latest spells, and to request additional tests that may help in arriving to her cure.

He could not give up now. He had already given too much.

"Draco…"

"I SAID LEAVE!" he roared.

At the same time, the door had burst open with an aghast Hermione striding through.

"Draco!" she scolded and he deflated quickly. He looked away from her fiery eyes and had to swallow the lump that had been lodged in his throat ever since he received the bad news this morning. "Outside. Now!"

His jaw tightened, annoyed at being ordered around. But he had quite forgotten this was Hermione Granger. The witch could be rightfully bossy if she put her mind at it, and with the tone of her voice, he knew she would resort to other means if it meant he would follow her order.

Draco scowled, refused to look at neither Healer Matthews nor Rose, and then stubbornly strode into the corridor together with Hermione.

"Look, I understand what you may have been feeling right now, but that doesn't give you the right to start cursing at someone!" she reprimanded, cheeks red from frustration and her hair bushier with her palpable annoyance. Draco still resolutely refused to look at her. "Healer Matthews had been doing his best and you, of all people, should know that."

He balled his fist and plopped down on one of the benches. He knew that. He bloody well knew everything she said. Guilt slowly crept in, ashamed at bursting out at Healer Matthews, who had been nothing but helpful to him and his mother. The anger had completely left him, replaced by a mixture of guilt and despair and he was… he was just too tired.

Draco felt Hermione slowly sitting down beside him.

"Draco," she called. Her voice wasn't angered anymore, and he could feel the lump in his throat again.

Mentally, he kicked himself for losing his composure in public. He had always been good at keeping his emotions behind his indifferent mask, but lately, he felt that he was slowly losing this talent. Ashamed with how his eyes were burning, he hid his face behind his hands and sighed.

"Draco, look at me," she cajoled, her small hands grasping his larger ones.

Her words were soothing, her touch comforting, and Draco found himself obliging to her request without any protests.

Hermione's eyes were filled with concern and warmth and everything that he knew was definitely her. His hands were on his lap now, but her tiny hands hadn't let go of them yet.

"I know that it is wrong to give out false hopes," she started. "But… your mother is strong. I've seen her in battle and… and she fiercely loves you."

He slowly looked at her, eyes still shining with the tears he refused to release. "She knows that you are still here for her," she reassured. "So, I think it is safe to say you cannot give up on her just yet, yeah?" The smile she gave him had warmed his heart, and he had to try his hardest this time not to show his tears. "All hope isn't lost yet."

Draco took a sharp, shaky intake of breath, and weakly squeezed her hand.

"You know, it is okay to cry," she said, slight teasing in her voice. He lightly glared at her and she chuckled. "It's not the end of the world if you showed me your tears, Draco."

Oh, she had seen him cry, once, and Draco refused to repeat that mistake ever again. "You wish, Granger," he weakly spat, but this only made her smile more.

"Now, go apologize to Healer Matthews for being an arse," she ordered.

"I'm not a child for you to order around, Granger."

"Sometimes, you act as one, so I do wonder."

Draco glared before standing up. The brunette did the same, chuckling under her breath as he followed him, and Draco secretly allowed himself to smile a little. He felt loads comforted, but she did not need to know that. He suspected that she already knew it anyway, and he did not want to give the blasted witch some reason to inflate her ego.

Before opening the door, Draco took a new breath. Apologizing had never been his forte, but he had been admittedly an arse, and Healer Matthews was just being helpful. Scowling, and finally pushing the door open, Draco had wondered when did he become such a bleeding Hufflepuff?

He had merely took a single step, when he became firmly rooted on the spot. Hermione bumped against him, muttering a soft 'ow', before saying, "Why did you suddenly -"

Her words died down as she finally heard Rose's tiny voice.

"Somewhere over the rainbow way up high."

The sight before him was a surprise. Healer Matthews was long gone, perhaps to attend to his other patients with more polite family members. His mother, to his utmost bewilderment, was sitting on a chair beside the window, eyes staring off somewhere in the distance. What surprised him the most, however, was the singing child sitting on her lap.

"There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby."

Narcissa had a small smile on her face, absentmindedly running her hand through Rose's curly red tresses.

"Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue."

He felt something stir in his heart, and Draco took a deep, shuddering breath once more.

"And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."

"It's Rose's most favourite song," Hermione whispered, walking to stand beside him. "I used to sing her that before she sleeps when things weren't…"

She let her words falter, a small, sad smile on her face. At the same time, Rose looked up upon hearing her mother's voice and jumped down from Narcissa's lap.

"Mama, Mama, look, Cissa is up!" she exclaimed, excitedly running towards Hermione. Rose then proceeded to grasp the hem of Hermione's sleeve. "Mama, can you give me a rose? Please please?"

"What for, sweetheart?" she asked, bending down to level her eyes with Rose.

Her daughter pointed at Narcissa. "It's for Cissa," she said. "She told me she likes roses the most." She smiled widely, cheeks colouring in delight. "She said my name is pretty."

"But of course, it is," Hermione said, already pulling out her wand from her pocket. Then, she wordlessly conjured a red rose out of thin air and gave it to her daughter.

Rose cheerfully exclaimed her thanks, and then ran back towards the ill witch. She then proceeded to climb on her lap once more.

Draco had been silent during the whole ordeal, honestly at loss of what to say. He had forgotten that Narcissa reacted the same way when he brought Rose to the Manor before. To see his mother, smiling, made his heart hurt and he couldn't help but look at the child with awe.

"Cissa, you shouldn't be sad anymore," Rose said, presenting the flower to Narcissa. "It makes Draco sad. And I don't like to see him sad. I get sad, too."

She pouted to prove her point, and Narcissa released a soft laugh that sounded like light, tinkering bells.

"You know my son?" she asked, tucking a tendril behind Rose's ear.

"Yes!" Rose happily replied. "Me and Mama are staying with him. And he has a telly! I can watch cartoons any time I want, but Draco calls them kartowns." She chuckled and played with Narcissa's hair. "He likes Tornados, too! Unlike Theo." She made a face, and then proceeded to recount all the adventures she had with Draco and Theo, and with her mother and Luna.

He had watched their exchange, tightness in his chest, and it was only when Hermione touched his cheek when he realized he had started to cry.

Blast it all, and he had been doing so well ever since they arrived in St. Mungo's.

But then, looking at her mother and Rose interacting with each other, his emotions had overwhelmed him.

Draco impulsively grasped Hermione's hand, surprising her, and then looked into her eyes. "Your daughter…" he sputtered, unable to quell his tears. "She's…" He looked down at Rose once again and had never felt grateful in his life until today.

There were also tears in Hermione's eyes as she squeezed his hand back. "I know," she replied, discreetly wiping her tears away. "I know."

"Can't sleep?"

Draco's hand stopped mid-air, the cookie he was grasping slipping noisily back onto the plate. He slowly looked behind him and saw Hermione with a small smile on her face, clad in her sleeping robe. She was clutching a glass of water in her right hand, then walked towards Draco and sat down beside him.

"No cookies after bedtime, remember?" she asked, humour in her voice, prompting Draco to roll his eyes.

"Uh oh, you've caught me. Will you order me to go to my bedroom too?" he snarkily asked, but Hermione merely chuckled and indulged herself with one of the scrumptious snack.

Draco gave her a sideways glance before grasping his half-eaten cookie. "Why are you still up?" he inquired.

"Rose kicked me in her sleep," she said, chuckling. "I woke up and couldn't fall asleep anymore. You?"

The blond merely shrugged and silently munched on his cookie.

"You should sleep. It's been a long day, Draco."

He sighed. Indeed, it had been, but sleep had been elusively avoiding him tonight. "I tried," he confessed. "It was futile."

"A lot of things on your mind?" she asked, already helping herself with her second cookie.

There had always been a lot on his mind. His mother, the Malfoy business, Rose, her… Draco lightly blushed and hid his face away from her prying eyes.

It still embarrassed him that he broke down in front of her, again, back in his mother's hospital room. Hermione had not said anything ever since, and Draco wondered if the brunette would rub this off in his face anytime soon.

"Draco," she called.

"Yeah?"

"Err… I know this is not the right time to say this, but…" She paused and waited. Draco finally turned to look at her, but her eyes were filled with sadness and apology and an emotion he could not recognize. "I plan on going home with Rose three days from now."

Draco felt his heart drop onto his stomach and scowled. She was right; it wasn't the right time to say it.

"Mrs. Figg already returned to the country and she could take care of Rose while I'm gone," she hastily explained. "Speaking of which, Harry already gave the go signal for me to return to work a few days from now and I'm really, utterly swamped with work I just had to go back."

"You have been gracious for letting us stay here," she continued, cheeks slightly tinged with pink. "I… I'm grateful for what you'd done in the past weeks for Rose and me, but I think we have stayed too long. I am well after all."

"Can't you stay?" he blurted out before he could stop his stupid, stupid mouth.

Hermione's eyes widened. "What?" she asked, almost breathless.

Draco had the urge to smack his mouth for betraying him once more. He realized too late it sometimes had a mind of his own when he talked with Hermione Granger.

"Nothing," he said, refusing to look into her eyes. To his surprise, Hermione placed her warm, small hand atop his own.

"Don't worry, you're welcome to drop by any time," she reassured, the corner of her lips quirking up into a smile. "And, well, you know how demanding my work could be and seeing that all you do is sit behind your desk and read endless paperwork, I can always ask you to take care of Rose sometimes."

He scowled. "Who said I'd allow that?" he growled, hyperaware of how warm her hand was.

Hermione chuckled and stood up from her stool. "Get some sleep, Draco," she said. And then, she proceeded to walk towards her bedroom. It was only when he heard her room click shut when his scowl slipped away, replaced by a frown which he denied had to do with Granger and Rose's approaching departure.

A/N: End of chapter! Review please!

So, the "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" part was actually inspired by a scene in "Blended". Yep, you know, the one starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler? I know it was supposed to be a comedy, but all the family matters had really touched my heart. You should all watch it if you still haven't had the chance! I highly recommend it.

Also, I know that I kinda depict an OOC Draco but eh, I can't help it. I wanted my Draco in this story to be tired and weary from this shit world, who just really needed a good hug or two. Or maybe a family... eh? eh? Feel free to give him hugs, yeah? I don't mind.

Next chapter will feature the mother-daughter duo's last day in Draco's flat! Is the story nearing an end? Nope, not yet, I still have at least more than 10 chapters planned for this story. Of course, seeing it's their last day, they should leave with a bang, amirite? Feel free to speculate on what they would be doing hahaha! I'll try to update earlier, so do watch out.

Finally, I'd like to shamelessly plug my new one-shots "Returning Favors" and "Always McLaggen". So... it's kinda a Cormac/Hermione fic lol I know, I know, it's a rare pairing and McLaggen's a bloody arse and Hermione only deserved Draco and such. But give him a chance? Cormac's character was pretty straightforward in the books, and I kinda gave him some depth hahaha. If you've been following me ever since I became an author in this site, besides Dramione, I LOVE pairing Hermione with the most unexpected people (yep, crossovers included). It had honestly frustrated my Dramione readers lol. Of course, if this isn't your cup of tea... well, at least I gave it a try :)

Anyway, that's it for now! Again, review!

With love,
WickedlyAwesomeMe