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"Hermione, we have a newborn." The Mungo's orphanage center's receptionist, Carey, said quickly as soon as I entered through the doors.
"Name, birthdate, parents?" I asked, stopping at the desk.
"Ginnifer Martin, one week old, father was a muggle born who passed away in a car crash six months ago and mother was a pureblood who passed away due to childbirth. Their parents were all killed in the war and their wills read that their child go to the mother's best friend Ruby Hold. She, at the moment, is caught up in Costa Rica on an Auror Mission and can only come in a week later at the earliest."
I nodded. "Who's in charge of Ginnifer?"
"That's the thing, Hermione." Carey said. "The five other employees we have are all busy and- Jamie Standler is quitting next week."
"She's what?" I gasped, leaning over the desk in shock.
"She's quitting. Leaving to Ireland to spend more time with her husband while he takes a break from Quidditch." Carey said.
"Dammit, Jamie." I said, slapping my palm against the desk, frustrated. "She knows we barely have a staff group big enough to run our center and she doesnt give us proper notice before leaving? That's ridiculous!"
"Ernie was the one to tell me. She told Ernie and he came straight to me, furious." Carey said.
"Furious with reason!" I cried, lowering my voice when a healer passed us to enter the center. "We are running short of staff and the number of kids aren't decreasing. We can't afford someone leaving us without finding a replacement first! We're all going to have to double or triple up our shifts at this rate and I- I love these kids, Carey, but I have a son at home as well."
"I know, Hermione." The twenty-one year old said, running her hand through her hair. "And Jamie does half-time reception work sometimes so without her, I'll have to do full-time throughout the week which is just crazy. What do we do?"
"We need a miracle to save us." I shook my head. "Mungo's refuses to allow us to hire by ourselves and take the help of other orphanage centers- people aren't volunteering from Mungo's or anywhere to help us out because if they haven't worked for more than two years, the pay isn't the best. Without Jamie, we're down to the six of us. We literally cannot lose even one of us. The staff to children ratio is getting worse."
"We just hope something comes up, I suppose. A miracle, like you said." Carey said, sitting down.
"What are the chances." I said, shaking my head, my shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Don't give up hope, Hermione." She said, reaching out and squeezing my hand.
"So Ginnifer is mine, I assume?" Carey nodded, confirming my thoughts. "Thanks, Care."
I walked into the center, avoiding Jamie at all costs because I didn't trust myself enough to face her and not yell at her at that moment. I walked straight to Ernie McMillan, who was carrying a tiny bundle of cloth in his arms.
"Is that her?" I whispered, coming to stand beside him.
"This is her. Ginnifer Martin." He said softy. "Poor thing."
"It's awful." I said, my eyes sad as Ernie passed the baby to me. She was tiny and as soon as she was in my arms, I knew she was precious. "Hi, Ginnifer. I'm Hermione- I'm going to take really good care of you, okay?" My throat clogged up as I looked at her face, her tiny features, her round and rosy cheeks, peaceful eyes- oblivious, unaware.
"Will you be okay?" Ernie asked, placing his hand on my arm.
"I heard about Jamie." I said softly. Ernie's eyes closed for a moment and he breathed deeply. "We'll figure something out, Ernie. We always do."
"It won't be easy." Ernie said.
"Has anything in this center ever been easy?" I asked. "But that doesn't mean we can't do it. We will, Ernie. These children need us- and we WILL be there for them. No matter what it takes."
Ernie nodded, his eyes reflecting more confidence than I felt at that moment. "We just have to figure something out. Call me if you need anything." He sent a smile my way before heading towards his own group of kids.
I knew Roland was immensely upset at me the moment I stepped through the doors at ten after dinner instead of my usual six-thirty. Mum had picked Roland up from school and I had called her to say that I needed to stay in extra time for Ginnifer. Roland was lying quietly in our bed when I crawled in with him and he didn't acknowledge me until I hugged him tightly and whispered that I loved him. He then turned towards me and buried his face into my shoulder and I held him through the night, barely getting any sleep as when sleep finally caught up to me in the early hours of e morning, I was called in at six-thirty- two hours earlier than usual.
The next four days were spent the same way, Roland getting more and more upset at my work hours. When the weekend came around, Jamie Standler gave in her resignation letter and simply left, forgetting any kind of protocol that we had when one was to leave the center. Roland, who had been looking forward to a fun-filled weekend and time with me began to cry when I said that I had to leave at five in the morning on that Sunday. With Jamie gone, a few of her children including a three month-old was left unattended and the few of us remaining had to fill in her hours. I reached home at seven-thirty, my body and head aching and the paperwork in my bag feeling heavier than ever.
"Hey, Roland." I whispered, sitting down beside the quiet boy on the sofa, a picture book open on his lap. I looked up worriedly at my mother who was seated on his other side. "Are you really mad at me?" He didn't respond. "I'm sorry I've been away so often. I really really am. There are just these kids at the center who need people to take care of them and I- I need to do that, baby. I can't just leave them alone."
"Yes you can." Roland mumbled, still not looking at me.
"Roland." I said softly, taking his hand. It was a slap in my face when he snatched his hand back. "These children need me, Ro. I can't leave them- they have no family."
"What about me?" Roland said, tears welling up in his eyes. "Don't you love me anymore?"
Tears filled my eyes as I knelt down in front of him and tried to make him look at me. "I love you the most, Roland. What can I do to make this better?"
"Go away." He said, tears spilling out of his eyes. I closed my eyes, my own tears falling.
"Ro-"
"Go away!" He cried, shrugging out of the arms I placed around him.
"Okay." I said, standing up. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything." I moved into the kitchen and sat at the table, pulling out the paperwork I needed to complete for Ginnifer and for Jamie's leave. I worked for what felt like hours, constantly wiping at my eyes.
I jolted awake when the floo activated but I didn't have the energy to lift my head from its place on my arm at the kitchen table. My eyes didn't open and the ache in the head intensified.
"Mister Malfoy!" I heard Roland cry.
"Hey, buddy. Mrs Granger. I had to actually speak with uh- Hermione about the orphanage center. I was wondering if she would be free now? I can leave if she isn't- it's just that I heard the center has been getting really busy and I feel like she won't be free in the coming weeks." I heard Malfoy say.
"Of course, dear. Hermione's in the kitchen."
"Thank you." I heard footsteps get nearer and nearer and soon he was standing very close to me. "Granger?" I tried to speak, to raise my head and open my eyes, but my body was simply refusing to cooperate. All I could manage was a sound from the back of my throat. "Are you sick?" When his cold palm pressed down on my forehead and then the back of his fingers against my cheek, the scene felt very familiar all of a sudden. "Granger, you're quite warm. Are you ill?" I managed to shake my head slightly. "It's 8:30 and you look like a mess. You're definitely ill. I'm calling your mother."
I finally managed to sit up and force my eyes open, my hand flying to my head when the room spun. "Christ." I muttered. "I'm fine, Malfoy. I'm just tired."
"You look more than tired." He said, raising his eyebrows. "I'm getting your mother."
"I'm fine." I said and when he turned to leave, I pushed myself off the chair and moved to grab hold of his arm which only resulted in my stumbling and I would've collapsed to the floor had it not been for Malfoy quickly spinning and grabbing hold of my upper arms.
"Yes, I'm sure you are." He said, holding me up. He put an arm around my waist and walked me to the living room, supporting most of my weight. I heard my mother rush to her feet and come towards us as my eyes drooped shut again.
"Hermione, you will work yourself to your death." She scolded, taking my hand. "This is what happens when you work for fifteen hours a day."
"Fifteen? Are you mad, Granger? Even Aurors don't work that much." Malfoy said as both of them pulled me up the stairs.
"Children." I mumbled, trying to open my eyes again.
"You're sleeping through the whole night, Hermione." Mum said firmly as I was placed on the soft mattress of my bed. She made me lie down and I sunk into the soft sheets immediately. And then I remembered. I tried sitting up again, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Roland." I choked out.
"He'll be fine." Mum said softly.
"Hates me." I whispered, covering my face with my hands.
"No, he doesn't. You're his mother. He's just upset." Mum said, stroking my hair. I whimpered, tears hitting my pillow as I curled up into a ball, exhaustion taking over within the next few seconds, pushing me into a deep sleep.
I woke up to my phone ringing loudly on my bedside. I pressed my fingers against my temple and blinked to adjust my eyes to the sunlight before grabbing my phone and answering it.
"Hullo?" I mumbled.
"Hermione, it's almost eight! Where are you?" Carey's voice rang out.
I swore and sat up, my head and body feeling heavy. "I overslept, I'm sorry. I'll be right there." I hung up and cast a quick cleaning charm over myself before throwing on a yellow blouse and pulling on my jeans. Tying my hair into a tight bun, I hurried downstairs. Only to see Malfoy and Roland lounging on the sofa, watching television.
"Good morning," I said unsurely.
"Morning, Granger." Malfoy said, looking up at me. He was dressed in a white work shirt and black slacks, his Auror robes hanging over the back of the sofa. He nudged the boy beside him.
"Morning, mum." Roland mumbled, not looking at me. I sighed and turned back to Malfoy.
"What brings you here?"
He looked a bit uncomfortable just then. "Came to see how Roland was doing and uh- you as well. You were in a bad state last night." I felt my cheeks begin to heat up- he came to check on Roland AND me?
"Thank you, Malfoy. That's very kind of you." I suddenly remembered the time and rushed to grab my bags from the kitchen where my mother caught my arm.
"You aren't seriously going to work?" She exclaimed.
"Jamie quit, mum. I'm late for work- I don't have a choice, I have to go." I said, shouldering my bag and leaving the kitchen before she could say anything else. I slipped on my shoes and Turned back to the two on the sofa. "Are you ready for school, Ro? I'll drop you off."
"Don't want to go." He said.
"Roland." I said, exasperated. "Please."
"I don't want to go." He said firmly and I took deep breaths to calm down.
"Okay. You can stay home. You, Malfoy? No work?"
"Don't feel like going today to be honest." He shrugged, smirking at me.
"What will you tell the office?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
"That I found a comfortable couch with a good tv show and an amazing buddy." He said, putting his arm around Ro's shoulders.
I turned to the children's show and then back to him, one eyebrow raised this time.
"Fine, a comfortable couch and an amazing buddy." He said. "Are you sure you should be working today?"
"I don't have a choice unfortunately." I said, moving towards the couch to kneel in front of Roland. "Hey, I'm sorry I have to go again." He didn't say anything and I bit down on my lower lip. "Ro, I love you. But I really have to go."
"Remember what I told you last night, Ro." Malfoy nudged him and Roland sighed.
"Okay, mummy." He said softly. I looked up at Malfoy, surprised.
"I'll see you in the evening." I said, standing up and kissing Roland's head. "Have fun." I smiled at Malfoy and left for work.
Needless to say, the day was exhausting and when I returned home at eight thirty, I was ready to collapse on the sofa and fall asleep without changing. I stepped through the fireplace and found Malfoy sitting on the sofa, remote in hand and Roland with his head in Malfoy's lap on a pillow, fast asleep. Only the standing lamp beside the sofa was switched on.
"Hey." I whispered, sitting down on the only available place on the sofa on Malfoy's other side. I slipped off my shoes and pulled my legs onto the sofa under me.
"Hey, how was work?" He asked, switching the tv off.
"I'm exhausted." I said, leaning my head on the back of the sofa, too near to Malfoy's shoulder for comfort but too exhausted to care. "We're down to six employees and too many children. I have a newborn in my care."
"That's why the increasing work hours?"
I nodded, my head brushing Malfoy's shoulder. "That's why Roland hates me." And then I remembered earlier this morning and opened my eyes to look up at him. "What did you tell Roland last night?"
He looked away awkwardly. "I just explained to him that there were children without families and without mothers like he had that were all alone and if you didn't take care of them, they would get hurt. He was upset but he doesn't hate you."
"I don't know how you do it." I said softly, looking away again. "You come into his life after close to five years and he listens to you more than he listens to me. He's happier to see you than he is to see me."
"I'm new to him." Malfoy said. "Give it a few weeks and he'll get bored of me."
"Thank you for staying home with him." I said. "You're there for him in a way I'm not."
"Don't be so hard on yourself." He said, looking at me. "It's not something you can just drop and walk away from- its your work. In fact, it's what I wanted to speak to you about. My mother's friend's daughter is the receptionist of the center-"
"Carey?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing.
"Yes. And my mother heard about how busy the center has become and that employees are quitting and nobody is volunteering to work there because of the pay. Our family donates a lot of money to Mungo's and the hospital, well, they owe a lot to the Malfoys. My mother wanted to hold an event for the orphanage center to promote it- and instead of donating to the surgery wing this year, she wants to give money to the raising of pay for volunteers so that more people join. The event would be a sort of charity and awareness function. We needed to run it by a center member before approaching Mungo's board members."
I stared at Malfoy, my mouth open in shock. "Are you serious? This isn't a joke?"
"Why would I joke about something like this?" He asked, eyebrows furrowing. I swallowed hard, tears rising to my eyes. "Hey, I'm sorry! I- I didn't know this was- I mean, if you don't want us to, we won't. It was just something my mother wanted to do and-"
"No, no! It's just- we needed a miracle to help us." I said, a tear slipping down my cheek. "We were scared we wouldn't be able to handle the center ourselves anymore but- but this is just- Malfoy, are you sure you want to?"
"My mother and I would really like to." He nodded.
I don't know what happened then but before I knew it, I was pressing a kiss to his cheek. When I realized it, however, I sunk into the cushions with my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I don't know how to thank you." I whispered. He didn't respond and I was mortified by what I had just done- I expected him to stand up and leave, disgusted perhaps. When he didn't, I could handle it no longer and stood up to take Roland upstairs. I was just about to take one step away from the sofa when his hand shot out and grabbed mine.
I turned slightly to look at him. He squeezed my hand and said softly, "You're welcome."
Thank you for reading and that was quite fluffy on Dramione's part haha, I hope you enjoyed it! Please please do review, it would mean the world to me! See you next chapter 3