St. Mungo's Anatomy
Authors Note: Hello all! First off I apologize for the EXTREMELY late update. It's been around 11 months or something. Wow. Sorry. Anyway if there are any people still reading this story then thank you! I'm getting older (aren't we all?) and the responsibilities caught up to me. I will update now…and then hopefully in two weeks. I'm in the middle of applying to college (whoot!) and my last deadline is January 15th and then my senior spring begins so I hope to finish the story. Anyway enjoy and on with this chapter that is VERY tardy for the party. (Thank you Heidi Montag for that…inspirational song)
"Hello Draco!" Catherine Bole purred as she cornered Draco.
Blast his mother to the deepest level of Hades. Unfortunately for the dashing Slytherin, Sunday had rolled around and with it his mother's party. Mrs. Malfoy had literally invited any single, non-psychotic (well mostly non-psychotic), decently attractive girls that Draco knew. While he himself could appreciate his own physical appearance, the amount of attention he was receiving made Draco want to run into a closet and hide. Closet? Bad imagery. He was not a poof.
"Ah, hello…you" Draco covered as he attempted to recall the first name of his Slytherin classmate. Wasn't she on the quidditch team? What was her blasted name? Unfortunately for Draco, Catherine took his slip as term of endearment and began to stroke his arm.
"You know it really hurt me that you didn't call me back after our date last year." Catherine pouted. So they had gone out? Still he couldn't for the life of his remember the raven-haired girl's name.
"Well I'm a right foul git. I suppose I was just too nervous." Draco lied smoothly.
"You, Draco Malfoy, nervous? I don't believe it." She flirtatiously laughed.
"Right. Well I need to go…feed my owl. Be right back." Draco rushed off. He hated his mother and her blasted parties.
"Meet any nice girls, Drakie poo?" Blaise teased, approaching him with a plate filled to the brim with food.
"Shut it, Zabini. I have a wand and I am trained to kill."
"We're healers, moron. We're trained to save people."
"No really?" Draco feigned surprise.
"How about we settle this matter? Just do a round of 'eeny, meeny, mo' and pick yourself a date."
"See that would be an easy solution but then I could end up with someone vile."
"Like that awful Eleanor Branstone?" Blaise pretended to vomit onto his plate, earning him a glare from his mother.
"I prefer Granger's nickname for her. Wasn't it something along the lines of heinous, constipated bitch?"
"Hmm…funny that you mentioned Granger."
"Really, why is that?" Draco asked passively.
"You know she doesn't have a date either."
"Not surprising."
"Really? I think she's extremely attractive."
"Then why don't you ask her?" Draco asked defensively
"Unlike you, I have a girlfriend." Blaise smirked.
"Right. How is the space cadet?"
"You'll pay for that. Oh Eleanor! Yes, hi, darling. Draco was just telling me how beautiful he thinks you look today." Blaise said calling her over.
"Draco, you just say the sweetest things." Eleanor cooed in her nasal voice.
"Blaise, I hate you." Draco said growling at Blaise in a whisper.
"Like I said, don't mess with me."
"Hermione, where are you going?" Ginny yawned as she poured herself cereal. Hermione was furiously brushing her hair before placing her white headband on her head, neatly between her fresh ringlets.
"Well I was invited to a party at the Malfoy's actually."
"You're going to one of Malfoy's parties? Willingly?" Ginny asked, shocked.
"Well his mother is desperately trying to set him up with a date for the gala and I am going for the amusement of watching him squirm."
"Dressed like that?"
"What's wrong with how I'm dressed?"
"Nothing! I mean that dress is amazing. It's just so sexy for a garden party!"
"It's just a plain, eyelet dress." Hermione self-consciously pulled down her dress. The dress in question was indeed quite glamorous. The dress seemed to be composed of strips of white eyelet that stopped several inches above the knee. The neckline consisted of the same strips crisscrossing in front only to be connected by a bow, enhancing her collarbone. To put it simply, she looked damn good.
"Well it looks as if you were on the prowl to seduce." Ginny waggled her eyebrows.
"Certainly not. As I've said before Ginny, I don't seduce, I'm just sought after." Hermione playfully winked.
"You naughty girl!"
"Speaking of things naughty, how are you and Harry?" Hermione asked carefully.
"To be honest, I haven't spoken to him. I don't know how to start a conversation with him when all I can think about is how he didn't pick me."
"I personally think that was one of the biggest mistakes of his life and I'm sure he will see it. But until then you know what you need to do, right?" Hermione said with a mischievous look on her face.
"Crawl into a hole and never reappear?"
"Go to the gala with Miles, look fabulous, show off your sexy figure and make Harry so jealous that he dumps Susan and snogs you senseless in front of the world."
"Miles is quite dashing, isn't he? I guess I could make it quite interesting."
"Now I never condone using people but I could make an exception this time." Hermione said laughing.
"I won't lead Miles on….too much."
"You, Ginny Weasley, are bad! Well I must be off. I have Malfoys to mock. See you later, darling." Hermione said before heading out.
"So Draco, sweetheart, are there any girls here you're interested in?" Narcissa asked as she unnecessarily straightened Draco's tie.
"Not yet, mother. Not since the last time you asked me…five minutes ago."
"I'm sorry, dear. I just want so badly for you to find someone."
"It's just a silly gala, mother."
"You know what I mean. I just think you've spent a little too much time playing the field. Maybe it's time to try the whole 'commitment' thing."
"Oh god. Not this conversation again!"
"I won't go on and on, just please give it some thought. Why don't you go tell Victoria Frobisher how lovely she looks today?"
"But she doesn't look lovely today." Draco muttered looking at the girl caked in makeup.
"I heard that. Now scoot!" Narcissa said pushing Draco in that direction. However, the doorbell rang precisely at that moment, distracting her enough so that Draco was able to scamper off.
"Ah Hermione, I am pleased to see you could come!" Narcissa nearly sang as she opened the door.
"Oh thank you so much, Mrs—er, Narcissa." Hermione smiled.
"And my dear, you look absolutely gorgeous. I'm afraid the boys won't be able to keep their hands off of you. I should warn you, all of Draco's group is here today and you know they act like utter buffoons in front of the pretty girls."
"That they do indeed." Hermione laughed.
"Now here, let me bring you into the parlor." Hermione looked around amazed at all the people in their best Sunday attire. Draco's circle had to be the cleanest, preppiest, best-dressed group of people she had ever encountered. Everyone was impeccably dressed and stood with an air of confidence that she could only envy.
"Hermione, you remember Theo Nott, right?" Narcissa said gently asserting Hermione into conversation.
"Enchanté madam," Theo said waggling his eyebrows.
"Nott, cut it out. You're embarrassing yourself." Blaise said as Theo grunted and walked away.
"Hello Blaise." Hermione said cheerfully.
"Does Draco know you're here yet?" Blaise asked curiously
"No I haven't seen Malfoy yet. Why?" Hermione questioned with an eyebrow raised.
"Ah, no reason. I just suspect he is off snogging the daylights out of some lucky girl." Blaise said purposefully, attempting to get a rise out of Hermione.
"Poor girl." Hermione said, turning sour.
"Not jealous are we?"
Hermione didn't even bother replying. Instead she opted to just look at him in a 'you've got to be kidding me way.'
"Whatever you say. Or don't say, Hermione."
"Draco, where have you been?" Narcissa said impatiently.
"I was just acquainting myself with Ellie Cattermole." Draco said slyly.
"Haven't you already acquainted yourself with her twin sister, Maisie?" Blaise interjected, dripping with sexual innuendos.
Narcissa just eyed them before moving on to greet Mrs. Goyle.
"Please refrain from mentioning my sex life around my mother, Zabini."
"Sorry, mate. I just couldn't resist." Draco snorted as he surveyed the room. However, someone near the refreshments table caught his attention.
"Want to know what I can't resist? That girl over by there, next to Melinda Bobbin. Excuse me while I go and meet my next bedfellow, if you will." However, Draco never received his reply but instead was met with a huge bout of laughter from Blaise.
"What? Who is she? Is she disgusting? I can only see her from behind." Draco said loudly over his laughter.
"No—it's not that…" Blaise said, grabbing his sides.
"What?" Draco was confused. All he could see was the backside of a girl who looked completely shagable.
"It's…that's…" Blaise spurted between laughs.
"Who is it? Out with it, man." Draco was becoming impatient.
"It's Granger!" Blaise laughed so hard that he began to choke, causing everyone, including Hermione, to turn towards them.
"Granger is here?"
"And you want to shag her rotten."
"Not anymore. She has a nice backside, that's it."
"Course, mate. Riiiiight." Blaise said before winking.
"Granger." Malfoy said nodding curtly at her.
"Hello Malfoy. You seem particularly perturbed. Any reason?"
"No. None. None whatsoever."
"Alright." Hermione said looking at him with disbelief. "How's the date search going?"
"Who cares."
"Why are you in such a pissy mood?"
"I'm not a big fan of this party if you couldn't tell."
"Hmm."
"What?" Draco asked, as he seemed to have lost Hermione's attention
"Your mother is looking at us."
"Right. She won't stop asking me questions about you. You know since she saw us together at the diner."
"She definitely seemed excited that I came today."
"Why did you come? Hold that thought. Come with me." Draco said grabbing Hermione's wrist, dragging her outside.
"Where are we going?"
"Just for a walk. My mother was about to intervene. I love the woman but she knows how to torture me."
"Wow, that's a beautiful fountain." Hermione said as she took in the Malfoy's garden.
"Er, thanks. Let's go up this way, towards the vineyard."
"Vineyard? What doesn't this place have?" Hermione couldn't help but gaze around at everything. The site was beautiful.
"So Granger, why did you come?"
"You know I wouldn't miss an opportunity to watch you get tortured."
"That's so sweet of you." Draco said sarcastically.
"If you want me to go, I will." Hermione said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Now, now Granger. Did I say that?"
"Well I'm glad you don't want me to leave. I bought this dress specifically for the occasion."
"The dress? Well it's…it's….very nice." Draco has noticed that dress. Boy, he had noticed that dress.
"You don't like it? Well I like it—"
"I do like it. It just doesn't seem like something you would wear."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"It's just so…sexy." Draco smirked.
"What? So I can't own a sexy dress just because I'm not sexy?"
"And who said you weren't sexy?" Draco smirked, staring her right in the eyes.
"Shut up Draco."
"Draco, is it?" Hermione rolled her eyes at her name slip.
"That is your name, isn't it?"
"Do you like it when I call you sexy, Granger? Or should I say Hermione?" Draco's voice lowered on instinct as he lifted a hand to stroke her cheek.
"Am I interrupting something?" Blaise entered, nearly laughing himself to death.
"No, Malfoy here was just trying to make me throw up all the food his mother served me." Hermione said scowling.
"No, Granger here was just exhibiting her inability to take a compliment."
"It's not a compliment when you don't mean it."
"Who said I didn't mean it?" Draco said winking.
"You're disgusting."
"Do you want me to leave so you can shag now? Or are you going to shag later?" Blaise joked
"Uch, please Blaise, don't insult me. I have standards," Malfoy said laughing. However, his laughter was cut short abruptly as he felt the enormous pain from the impact of Hermione's high heel intentionally stabbing his foot.
"You're a real asshole, you know that." Hermione said angrily before stomping off.
"What got her knickers in a twist?" Malfoy groaned, grabbing his wounded foot.
"Clueless…utterly clueless." Blaise walked away, shaking his head.
"So Hermione, tell us about the party!" Ginny said as the three girls poured themselves over their Chinese takeout.
"Oh let me tell the story!" Luna squealed.
"How do you know the story?" Hermione said, eyebrows raised.
"Blaise."
"He told you? How completely embarrassing." Hermione said mortified. After Draco had preceded to flirt with her and then to dismiss her like one of his common flings, Hermione had left the party without even thanking Narcissa. She hated being rude but the foul git had ruined the entire party for her.
"Can someone fill me in?" Ginny was never known for her patience. However, lucky for Hermione, the phone rang at that exact moment.
"Hello, you've reached Luna, Hermione and Ginny, three wanton sex goddesses" Ginny joked into the phone. "Oh, hi Harry." Ginny said, changing tones drastically, becoming utterly embarrassed. Hermione and Luna of course broke into fits of laughter. Ginny took the cordless phone and hurried into her bedroom to gain some privacy.
"How have you been?" Harry asked, clearly uncomfortable.
"Er, fine. What about you?"
"Fine as well." An awkward silence made Ginny want to die.
"How's Susan?" Ginny said, trying to hide her complete resentment.
"She's in Paris, visiting a friend."
"Oh, great." What else was there to say? Ginny wondered whether he had forgotten the reason he called since he wasn't saying anything. "Uh, Harry did you want to talk to Hermione or Luna or something?" She said timidly.
"I called for you, actually." Ginny's heart began to speed up and her hands started to sweat in a very unladylike manner.
"You did?" Great response Ginny, just great!
"Yeah. I feel awful…about everything."
"Oh."
"And I just feel like since we have such a huge history together that I owe you an explanation."
"No you—"
"Yes I do. What I did was inexcusable and I want to make it up to you. Any chance you'd be interested in having dinner with me tomorrow night? I really want to explain." Harry interrupted her.
"Harry, I—"
"Please Ginny." Harry begged.
"Don't you think Susan would mind?"
"Ginny, you've been my friend for longer than I've known her. She can deal with it."
"Sure, tomorrow is fine."
"Great." Harry said, sounding relieved. "I've really missed you, Gin." By this point pesky tears were silently rolling down her face. Why did he have the ability to affect her this way?
"Miss you too, Harry." And she did. She really did.
Hermione was pleased when Monday rolled around. The gala was on Friday night, which meant she had five days left to ensure the promotion would be hers. No sexist boss or annoying ferret would get in her way. She wasn't sure why but from the moment she entered the hospital that morning, she had secretly been avoiding Malfoy. She wasn't sure why his comment affected her so much but it had.
"Morning Hermione." Seamus said pleasantly.
"Hello Seamus." Hermione smiled as she began to pull her scrubs on. She couldn't help but notice that Seamus had been staring at her as she did it. Screw Malfoy, other boys like Seamus, nicer boys at that, thought she was attractive.
"So have you given any thought to what I asked you?"
"I'm sorry, what did you ask me?" Hermione was confused.
"You know…about the gala." Hermione had completely forgotten about his rivalry with Dean. She knew she owed them both answers but she couldn't get herself to accept either.
"Seamus, I just think it would be better if I didn't go with either you or Dean. You guys are best friends and I can guarantee you I am not worth fighting over."
"Agreed." Malfoy said, entering the conversation.
"Fuck off, prick." Hermione said furiously.
"Granger, I was kidding. Calm down." Women are so irrational.
"That's fine, Hermione." Seamus said disappointed. Hermione felt terrible watching him exit the locker room so sullenly.
"Breaking hearts are we, Granger?" Malfoy laughed.
"Of course not, Malfoy. I mean how could I? They have 'standards.'" Hermione deliberately emphasized standards.
"Granger, don't make me do it."
"Do what?" She asked confused. God Malfoy was bizarre.
"The A word."
"Huh?"
"Apologize." Draco gulped over dramatically. "Alright fine, you cruel witch. I didn't mean to insult you. I mean I did mean to insult you but I didn't mean to hurt your feelings because I didn't mean it. It's just our thing."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"It's our thing. I insult you; you insult me. We just do. So obviously I didn't mean it."
"You didn't mean it?" Hermione clarified.
"Granger, you have no idea do you? Do you have any idea how many guys were talking about you? I nearly had to curse Goyle; he was talking about your…uh, rear…so much."
"What are you trying to say?" Hermione said, clearly enjoying herself.
"Never mind Granger."
"Malfoy, are you trying to compliment me?"
"You're insufferable. We have rounds to do."
"See you later, lover boy."
"Alright people, gather around." Healer Baruffio called. "Good work today. Alright as you know this is my final weak working here at St. Mungos and I just wanted to thank you guys for making this experience a memorable one."
"And girls." Hermione interjected jokingly.
"What?" Healer Baruffio asked annoyed.
"You just thanked the guys, I was just making a joke out of it."
"Don't."
"Sorry sir." Hermione could have hit herself.
"Alright Malfoy, how about you write up the surgery schedule for the next 24 hour shift." Draco grinned widely. He was getting closer and closer to the promotion. He could see Granger's jaw drop to the floor. It was common knowledge that Healer Baruffio trusted very few people to write on the board and he had asked him, Draco not Hermione. Score!
"Mr. Baruffio, I just wanted to ask you a few questions about the surgery you performed today. It was amazing! The way you used tackled the flagrante curse was absolutely phenomenal."
"Thank you, Granger."
"Would you mind if I picked your brain for ideas? I'm working on this solution for the conjunctivitis curse and with your theories regarding medieval medicine, I really think it could work."
"I'm very impressed, Hermione. That shows a great initiative. I didn't know you had it in you." Hermione looked over at Draco and smirked.
"Come walk with me, Granger. I have something you might enjoy reading." Hermione knew healer Baruffio didn't respect her because of her gender but she would win him over. And it was working. And Malfoy looked pissed. Excellent.
After completing their shift, the healers from St. Mungos once again found themselves sitting in their favorite bar. Hermione had made sure this time to arrange for a cab to come pick her up as to avoid any accidents. Blaise and Hermione were engrossed in a conversation about magical vs. muggle magic when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Hey Hermione," said Jeremy Stretton, the guy Ginny had been setting her up with.
"Oh Jeremy! Lovely to see you!" Hermione greeted him. Though Hermione didn't notice, Blaise watched as Draco began to become very tense.
"Jealous, mate?" Blaise said quietly.
"You don't remember him?" Malfoy whispered back, somehow communicating a message to Blaise via eye contact.
"No….WAIT-HIM? Fuck."
"Yeah."
"So Hermione, want to dance?" Jeremy said offering her his hand. "What the fuck are you doing here, Malfoy?"
"I work with these people. What's your excuse, Stretton?" Malfoy spat.
"I'm sorry…am I missing out on something?" Hermione asked, looking at Malfoy and Blaise glaring at Jeremy.
"Nothing of importance." Jeremy said winking at her.
"You would say that you no good son of a—" Draco began as he shoved Jeremy.
"Malfoy! What the hell has gotten into you?" Hermione shrieked as she cut him off.
"What the hell has gotten into me?"
"You're acting like a complete git! Don't touch him!" Hermione said pushing Draco away. "Jeremy, are you okay?" Hermione noticed Jeremy had been rubbing his arm where Draco had pushed him.
"Yeah, fine." Jeremy said, acting macho.
"Malfoy, how about we put this silly past behind us?" Jeremy smirked, offering his hand.
"You fucking ass—" Draco yelled before punching Jeremy square in the face.
"What the hell is your problem?" Hermione screamed before rushing to Jeremy's aid. By this time Blaise had grabbed Malfoy and pulled him off to the side.
"Remember Draco, that's the hand you use to operate with. Don't want to ruin that." Blaise joked.
"I could kill him." Draco growled.
"What has gotten into you? You're pathetic." Hermione spat at Draco.
"Let's get out of here." Blaise said grabbing Malfoy's arm, dragging him away from the commotion.
"Holy fuck my eye hurts."
"Here, put some ice on it." Hermione said as she stood next to the now sitting Jeremy. "Can I ask what that was all about?"
"Uh, Malfoy and I just don't have the best past. That's all."
"What happened?"
"Like I said nothing important."
"I think if it was enough to start a fight, it was important."
"Malfoy and I used to be good friends actually."
"Then what happened?"
"Well let's just say this black-eye he just gave me is in return for one I gave him earlier."
"What happened between you two that would make you act like this?" Hermione asked as she continued to ice his eye.
"We met through mutual friends in Hogwarts, got along rather well. We both ended up in Notting Hill after school ended. That's when I made my first catastrophic mistake."
"Which was?"
"Introducing him to my girlfriend. You remember Pansy Parkinson?"
"Wasn't she Draco's girlfriend? I remember them dating."
"Yes they dated in Hogwarts but briefly and never too seriously. So I guess it's my fault for reintroducing them."
"So they…" Hermione cut herself off
"Yeah I walked in on them doing the horizontal samba in my bedroom. I was planning on proposing to Pansy that evening so it near broke my heart. Anyway the rest is history."
"I had no idea. I am so sorry."
"It's alright. All for the best I suppose. If I had married Pansy then I never would have had the chance to do this."
"Do what? Get into a fist fight?" Hermione joked.
"No, ask you to the gala." Jeremy raised his hand to stroke Hermione's cheek, mirroring Draco's actions at his mother's party.
"You want me to go to the gala with you?"
"Say yes." Jeremy said taking her hands in his. Hermione froze. "Anytime now, really."
"Sorry, uh, yes, sure."
Note: Thank you so much for reading. For any of you Gossip Girl fans out there, the dress I was imaging Hermione was wearing is the one Blair wore to the white party. Google search it if you don't remember, it's glorious. (Chuck/Blair for life) Not relevant but worth mentioning. : ) So I felt the chapter was a little dramatic towards the end but I think it was important for the plot. Hope it wasn't too serious for you guys! Anyway I hate commas. So excuse my lack of proper grammar. I'm a rebel, no grammar rules for me! Anyway you are the best readers in the world! Review if you feel like being an awesome, cool, sexy person! WHOOT. Also, Happy Holidays and have an amazing New Year! Yay 2010!