AN: Thank you so much for all the kind words. You guys are awesome sauce! ;D

'Spike' - Rolanda Hooch
'Mocha' - Angelina Johnson
'Red' - Minerva McGonagall
'Morticia' - Narcissa Malfoy
'Sandy' - Andromeda Tonks

CLUB GLAMOUR

Chapter 14

The waiting room in the critical care unit of St. Mungo's was dismal and that was putting it mildly. The room was what it was...

A place to wait for loved ones to live or die.

Plain white walls. Tiled floor in some obscure pattern lost to time as over the years countless worried feet had trod the design clean off. Uncomfortable plastic chairs that used to be a greenish blue colour but were now worn white at the arm rests and seat.

The room smelled of fear.

In a far corner sat a brooding wizard in voluminous black robes. His platinum blonde hair and piercing grey eyes gave away his identity. When he had entered the waiting room and quietly sat in an empty chair, those people sitting on either side of him had immediately moved away. A golden eyebrow had risen sardonically in an expression reminiscent of a certain potions master.

The intensity in his eyes as they kept an unblinking stare at an emergency care room just across the hall was unnerving. If anyone had the misfortune of pacing in front of his line of vision, they were greeted with a low growl.

No one went near Draco Malfoy.

As the door would open and swing closed, wisps of conversation would drift out to ears that had an amplification spell silently cast upon them...

"...massive blood loss..."

"...she's dangerously dehydrated..."

"..alcohol poisoning..."

"...old wounds... looks like she was tortured.."

"...bloody death eaters! You know who this is right?"

Draco held his head in his hands as he strained to hear more.

"...check her vitals.."

"..shit! Her heart's stopped! Get a crash trolley in here!"

Alarmed, Draco's head snapped up to see a blue orb appear above the door and begin flashing garishly. Then from out of nowhere a hoard of green clad medical personnel levitated all manner of equipment into the room. The hair stood on up on the back of his neck as he listened...

"Damn! Come on sweetie you're a tough little witch. We all know it! Now fight!"

"...Cirrhosis? Look at her liver function numbers..."

"...she really saw some action in the battles. Look at these scars."

"..Oh my God, look at her arm. Does that say, "Mudblood?" Who would do such a thing?"

Draco lowered his eyes in shame. He knew exactly who would do such a thing.

And did.

That it happened in his own home, in front of himself and his mother, now filled those unblinking ghostly eyes with shame and despair.

An older witch moved passed the door that he was watching. Recognition flashed across his handsome face. He knew the plump, greying woman from his days at school.

In a flash of flowing black silk, he was gliding out of the waiting room and after the witch calling, "Madame Pomfrey?"

"Tabby?"

"Minerva?"

The body on the bed twitched and a soft anguished moan could be heard escaping thin, pale lips.

The portrait of Dumbledore stared down at his dear friend. His whiskered face betraying an anguish of his own... and something else.

Guilt.

He had never meant to harm Minerva. He loved her. She was the dearest friend he'd ever had. Yes, he had wanted her to be the very best at whatever she attempted and she had never disappointed him. Yes, perhaps he had set an example for her to follow...

The wrong example.

He had been the architect of his own life. Passing over opportunities for a rich personal life in favour of the pursuit of knowledge and in making the wizarding world a better place to live. His association with Gellert Grindlewald and the painful heartache and guilt that was the result had moved him towards teaching, of guiding the youth of the wizarding world and ultimately to the position of Headmaster at the premier school of magic in Europe. It had been his choice to forego the joys of the heart after the unfortunate and tragic end of his relationship with Gellert.

But not Minerva's.

He had never given her a choice. He had never actually told her not to have a life outside of Hogwarts, but one thing Albus Dumbledore had been known for...

When he wanted something, he got it. No matter the consequences. With a certain flash of his eyes, or an expression on his face. He could communicate without saying a word. And he had communicated with Minerva.

Loud and clear.

A single tear rolled down his painted cheek as he whispered, "I'm so sorry." He had never given her a choice. He had moulded her into his idea of the perfect educator. Solid, staid, stoic.

Brilliant ice.

But ice has a habit of melting in the heat.

Be it in the heat of the sun or in this case the heat of a burning chocolate gaze.

"Oh Tabby I was so wrong. You must live your life your way. You must find what works for you. Not what I or the staff or the board of governors think. It's your life and it's time you lived it."

Emerald eyes snapped open as a long, slender body rolled over and stared up at him. An expression of disbelief on a saddened face.

Clear blue orbs connected with her for a long silent moment before her mentor whispered, "Forgive an old fool Tabby and go. Go to her."

"Draco Malfoy?" Poppy Pomfrey stopped in the corridor as she realized who'd called her name.

Gliding towards her with long graceful strides was the heir to the Malfoy legacy. Tall, slender and sleek. Not a single platinum hair out of place. Perfectly groomed as always except...

His robes bore the crimson stain of dried blood.

"What has happened?" She inquired, whipping out her wand to run a quick diagnostic spell on the young man.

Shaking his head, he replied, "I am not ill. I brought a friend in." He pointed to the closed door of the critical care unit, "She's in there. I was wondering if perhaps you could find out what's going on." He frowned darkly as he stared at the door, "I'm not family so they won't tell me anything."

Poppy sighed, her tired blue eyes assessing the young man, "Who is your friend?"

"Hermione Granger."

The older witch stood for a moment completely dumbstruck. Draco was friends with Hermione? When did that happen? She thought back to something he'd said about family, "Where are her parents?"

"Dead. They were murdered in Australia by a death squad sent there specifically to eliminate the Grangers." His voice held a tiny quiver as he relayed that bit of information. He was deeply ashamed that it was his own father who'd uncovered the information pertaining to the location of Hermione's parents.

Poppy's eyes widened as the realization that poor Hermione had no one to look after her. No one that is except... Draco? She rubbed her chin thoughtfully and asked, "What about Harry Potter or the Weasley's?"

A disgusted snort was his reply, along with a mysterious, "Indeed. One would think."

The truth was that once Hermione had drawn her wand on her friends to protect him, the Golden Trio ceased being so golden after all.

The gray haired witch reached out a hand and gently laid it upon his forearm, "I'll see what I can find out."

Little did she know that beneath the black silk where her hand was resting, was the faded mark of the Dark Lord. A mark that had been the cause of all manner of suffering and now weighed heavier than lead.

'Spike' paced back and forth behind the bar like a leopard on the prowl.

As she passed 'Mocha' for the fiftieth time, the sexy bartender sighed and whispered, "Baby? Why don't you go find..." She paused as she noticed her lover abruptly stop and face her. She also noticed that the bar patrons were watching with interest. Frowning, she continued, ".. 'Red' and let her know what's going on."

Mirrored sunglasses were raised slightly as yellow eyes stared into coffee brown.

'Mocha' mouthed the word "go" to her lover as she turned back to attend to the bar.

"I'll call you," 'Spike' whispered as she stepped close and kissed her lover's cheek. With that, the spike haired witch strode to the exit of the club.

At the end of the bar, 'Morticia' watched 'Spike's' exit with interest, then took a long drag from her cigarette and elegantly blew the smoke at her sister.

Coughing and swatting the smoke away, 'Sandy' growled, "Stop it Beotch!" The glamoured blonde picked up her drink and loudly sucked down the last dregs. Setting the empty glass down, she belched.

"So vulgar." Morticia snorted, taking another puff.

Shaking her head, 'Sandy' retorted, "Oh yeah? Well I'd rather burp and fart in public than suck on one of those cancer sticks." She motioned for 'Mocha', "Can I have another?"

'Morticia' raised a thin eyebrow, "Another? Merlin woman, you've had six already."

Her answer was a loud slurping as another drink appeared.

Draco paced back and forth in the waiting room. The expression on his face was one of pure doom for anyone who got in his way.

No one did.

The other people sitting in the room had all migrated to one side, far away from him.

The sound of a door opening caused the young man to whirl around.

Poppy Pomfrey stood just outside the door to the critical care unit. A look of profound sadness on her matronly features. Her tired blue eyes were bright with unshed tears.

Three long strides brought the young man face to face with the medi-witch, "What? Tell me!"

A single tear slid down the rounded cheek of Madame Pomfrey as she replied, "She's fallen into a coma."

Draco Malfoy stood still.

Silent.

Like a statue, he stood staring at her with eyes filled with a myriad of emotions. Sadness, regret, concern, heartache... and anger. A hiss escaped his thin lips as he said, "I'll be back. I have someone to see."

As he was turning, Poppy spoke, "Where can I find you if..." She couldn't finish.

Draco paused, those same icy eyes melting, "Send a message to Club Glamour. They can get in touch with me."

Poppy watched the young man hurry away wondering just what he had to do with that wildly popular club that had opened. She, herself, had not had the opportunity to go but wanted to visit at least once.

Night time in Hogsmead was quaint. The small village was alight with activity even as the hour grew late. Most of the activity centered around The Three Broomsticks at one end of town and The Hogshead at the other end. Some businesses were still open and people strolled down the street here and there.

One particular business still had its lights on.

His anger dropped just a touch as he thought that Hermione would like some flowers in her room. With that in mind, he walked to the entrance of "The Green Thumb".

Neville's store.

Neville Longbottom was stacking cartons of plant food in his store room when he heard the bell ring as someone came into the shop. Wiping his hands on his apron, he strode out to the counter to see Draco standing there.

His cheeks flushed as he said, "Um, er.. hello."

The platinum haired wizard nodded, "Hello Neville." Grey eyes washed over the tall, dark haired man in an assessing gaze.

Brown eyes widened nervously as Neville replied, "Can I help you with some flowers?"

A slight smile quirked one side on Draco's angular face, "Yes. But first..." He cocked his head, "..I would like to know why you haven't come back to the club?"

Neville took a deep breath, "I've been busy." He reached under the counter and pulled out a sales slip, "What kind of flowers did you want?" He watched as the slender wizard took a step closer knowing full well that Malfoy saw right through his subterfuge.

"I want a room full of roses delivered to St. Mungo's."

Frowning, the dark eyed man asked, "Oh? Who are they to be addressed to?"

"Hermione Granger."

Neville's quill snapped in two upon hearing the name. Looking up, he whispered, "What happened?"

Draco's shoulders sagged as he softly replied, "I'm not exactly sure. I found her in her flat. She was bleeding and unconscious." He didn't mention that she also reeked of liquor. Neville didn't need to know that.

"What room is she in?" The young man asked as he reached for another quill.

Shaking his head, the blonde wizard replied, "She's in the critical care unit."

Nodding, Neville wrote down the information. Without looking up, he asked, "What colour roses?" He didn't trust himself to look into those accusing grey eyes. Yes he had been busy, but the truth was that he was scared of Draco. Attracted yes, turned on.. oh yes. But terrified that Draco just wanted one thing.

It was almost as if the blonde wizard had read his mind because the young man took another step closer to the counter and whispered, "I wasn't going to hurt you. I just wanted to see if...you were..." For all his eloquence, he still fumbled when it came to expressing his feelings.

Except with Hermione.

"I was.. what?" Neville prompted finally staring into those captivating eyes.

Sighing, Draco sagged once again, "Never mind." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Gringott's card. Handing it to Neville, he stated, "I'd like to place a second order as well."

Nodding, Neville reached for another sales slip, "What would you like?"

With sadness welling deep in those precious silver eyes, Draco replied, "Forget-Me-Nots." He turned and headed for the door.

Neville called after him, "Wait! Where do you want those delivered?"

"The Green Thumb, care of Neville Longbottom!" Was the answer as Draco Malfoy walked to the door.

Dark brown eyes followed the handsome man has he paused and glanced back. Holding up the plastic Gringotts card he called after Draco, "What about your card?"

An enigmatic smile was his reply as the blonde wizard exited the shop.

A clap of thunder heralded the arrival of one Draco Malfoy at the gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. The tall slim young man gazed up at the ancient castle with a mixture of sadness and trepidation. It was no secret that his years at Hogwarts were not as stellar as say Hermione's were.

His grades were adequate. Lucius seemed to think they were alright. Not that it really mattered as the elder Malfoy had already offered his son to the Dark Lord so really his grades meant nothing. Draco was to be forfeit to the cause. That was how it was supposed to have been.

That's not what happened however...

Severus Snape had stepped in and saved young Malfoy from killing Dumbledore. He did it to fulfil a vow and he did it to save Draco from living the forsaken life that the potions master had lived.

In the end, all that mattered was that Harry Potter had killed Voldemort and then turned on young Malfoy with murder in his eyes. The entire Order of the Phoenix had smelled blood.

His blood.

Then came Hermione to the rescue.

She had seen enough killing. She had seen enough suffering. Draco's only crime was being born into the wrong family and accepting the dark mark. So with wand out, Hermione Granger stood alone against an angry mob and threatened to kill the first person who stepped over the line she'd magically drawn on the stone floor of the great hall.

It ended her friendship with Harry and Ron.

It ended her association with the Weasley family. But it saved Draco Malfoy's life.

That was a sacrifice that he could never repay. Noble Gryffindor that she was, she gave up everything that ever meant anything to her to protect him.

Now he gazed up at the castle with anger brewing in his steely eyes. Something had happened between Hermione and Minerva McGonagall. Something that left the young woman lying in St. Mungo's in a coma. He was going to find out what that something was and if necessary, he was going to have Minerva McGonagall pay dearly for harming his friend.

Hooch stood watching Draco as he stared up at the castle with something akin to terror in his eyes. The young man simply stood there as if his feet had taken root in the ground . His hands clenching and unclenching into white knuckled fists.

"Are you gonna stand there all night or are you gonna find out what the hell happened?"

A surprised frown creased the handsome face of Malfoy as he turned slightly to answer, "If you'd kindly open the gates, then we can both find out."

Rolanda Hooch grinned as she waved her wand in a series of circles.

The great wrought iron gates of the castle grounds opened with a loud creaking groan.

Draco wasted no time dilly dallying. With a whoosh of his billowing robes, he marched through the gates and straight for the main entrance of the magnificent castle.

Hooch waved her wand once again and the huge gates closed with an equally loud clang. By the time the latch had clicked and Rolanda had turned to Draco, he was half way to the entrance, "Hey... wait for me!"

Minerva McGonagall had finally managed to get her emotions back under that legendary control she was known for. She was sitting at her desk staring at a mountain of parchments waiting for her perusal when a heavy knocking sounded on the ancient oak door to her office.

"Enter."

Despite its age, the door to the Head of Hogwarts office soundlessly opened to reveal Draco Malfoy. Standing just behind him was Rolanda Hooch.

Emerald eyes widened in curiosity as the two people entered the office. One with a look of pure malice, the other burning with unanswered questions.

Draco stiffly stood just a few paces from her desk, his silver eyes glittering with rage. Again his hands were clenching and unclenching into fists.

Minerva took this in with a frown, but asked, "How can I help you?"

The slender wizard gazed at the Headmistress. He could see that her eyes were red and puffy. Almost like she'd been crying. Her robes were a bit wrinkled and her hands were cut. Her knuckles torn and scabbed with dried blood. Seeing her hands in the condition they were in was enough to set the young wizard's brewing anger on the loose.

"You can give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand."

In a movement faster than the eye could track, Minerva McGonagall displayed just why she was the most powerful witch in Britain. Her long ebony wand was pointed right between his eyes while his was still holstered in the sheath on his forearm.

Or at least that was what he thought until he saw McGonagall holding it between long elegant, if not slightly battered fingers.

The Headmistress raised an eyebrow and stated in a calm voice, "Well, for starters it would be extremely bad form to hex the Head of Hogwarts in her own office."

Eyes narrowing, Draco retorted, "Yes and it's even worse form to leave the woman you just shagged bleeding and unconscious on the floor too."

Mystified, Minerva cocked her head, "What are you talking about?"

Shaking his head, Draco shot back, "Like you don't know McGonagall. You got your bit of fluff and then let her have what for!"

Hooch had stepped just inside the door to the office and was standing quietly. She realized that Draco needed to say what he had to say and Minerva needed to hear it. But if things got out of hand, she was prepared to stop it. She gripped her own wand tightly. Keeping an eye on the escalating aggression unfolding before her.

McGonagall shook her head, "I have no idea what you are talking about Mr. Malfoy." She frowned as she processed what he'd said and asked, "Is she alright?"

Ignoring her query, he barked, "You didn't shag Hermione Granger?"

Minerva was shocked at his outburst, but responded calmly, "That is not any of your business."

Draco stepped forward and rested his palms on her desk. Leaning forward, he hissed, "I'm making it my business. You had a date with her. You went back to her flat and shagged."

Lowering her wand, Minerva's shoulders sagged as she sank into her chair. In a soft voice, she answered, "I did not know that 'Blondie' was Hermione." A thought suddenly flashed into her mind. Angry emerald eyes stared into icy grey, "You placed a Confundus Charm on us." Unconsciously, her fingers tightened on ebony wood of her wand.

The platinum blonde wizard nodded, "Yes I did."

Standing again, the Headmistress roared out her rage, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?"

Draco was unfazed. Somewhere he'd found the courage to face off with the fierce witch before him. This was for his friend. He stood tall and folded his arms across his chest, "Because if you knew for one second that 'Blondie' was Hermione you wouldn't have approached her. I wanted to give you both the opportunity to get to know each other better." He took a sighing breath and added, "To have the chance to fall in love with each other."

"She already was in love with her." Came a voice from behind Minerva. Draco looked up to see the portrait of Dumbledore standing with his hands clasped together. A look of tender remorse brimming in sky blue eyes.

"Shut it Albus!" Minerva hissed as she spun and waved her wand. His portrait jumped off the wall, twisted around and reattached itself... backwards.

Turning back to face Malfoy, she growled, "You had no right to meddle."

Eyes narrowing, Draco hissed back, "I have every right! Hermione Granger is my friend. You have no idea what kind of suffering she's been through!" He pointed to his own chest and stated, "I do!"

The young man began to pace back and forth agitatedly in front of her desk, "She's been alone and miserable. In pain from wounds that cannot be healed."

He paused and gazed into her eyes. This time a look of deep anguish clearly shining through, "She has loved you for years, but never said anything because she knew that you would reject her." Unshed tears glimmered brightly in his pleading orbs.

Pulling himself together he stopped and pointed an accusing finger and added, "And that is exactly what you did do."

Minerva felt a lump form in her throat and for once did not know what to say. She placed Draco's wand on the surface of her desk.

Her silence gave Draco license to continue, "I built Club Glamour specifically to help people like you and Hermione. To give you a chance to be together without anyone ever knowing who you are. She came up with those amazing glamour charms. So powerful that they can be worn outside of the club." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own blue wrist band. Dangling it between his thumb and index finger he said, "To allow the famous and infamous be safely anonymous."

Minerva shook her head, "That still does not give you the right to play with people's lives."

Draco frowned, "All I did was cast a simple charm on you and Hermione." He pointed back at Hooch, "Rolanda figured it out and demanded that I lift it."

Angry betrayal filled emerald eyes as they focussed on Hooch, "You knew?"

Hooch felt her ears flatten against her skull. Taking a deep breath, she stepped further into the room, "Yes I knew. Not from the beginning mind you, but I figured it out." She could see the storm brewing in her friend's eyes. Holding up her hands, she continued hastily, "Now before you hex me into the next century, I happen to agree with Draco."

Shocked Minerva and Draco both exclaimed, "WHAT?"

Shaking her spiked head, Hooch blurted, "Not about the Confundus part. The bit about you two being together. You belong with her and she belongs with you."

Minerva remembered a conversation that she and her friend had had in this very room not too long ago. A talk that involved all the reasons why she couldn't be with Hermione and Hooch stating all the reasons she should.

A bump against the wall momentarily broke her train of thought. She turned and gazed at the portrait of the former headmaster. The painting wiggled a bit, then was still. A commotion in a nearby gilded frame caused the three people to look in that direction.

Albus Dumbledore had squeezed into the portrait of Severus Snape.

"This is my portrait you old nutter and stop sitting on me!"

"I need to be heard!"

"You've done enough!"

"I can fix this!"

"SILENCE!"

The room fell into an unearthly quiet at Minerva's roar.

Using the opportunity, Hooch took another step forward, "Minerva... I know you love her. For once do something so selfish it's Slytherin."

Draco raised an indignant eyebrow, "Oy!"

Ignoring him, Hooch continued, "That young woman needs you. She loves you madly. She always has. Give her a chance to fill the emptiness in your heart."

Minerva cleared her throat and sighed. Remembering what Draco had said about Hermione bleeding and unconscious, she fixed Malfoy a stare, she asked, "Is she is in St. Mungo's?"

Nodding, the young man replied, "I felt something was wrong when she did not show up at the club, so I went to her flat and..." He paused swallowing as he remembered just what it was he'd found. Staring up at McGonagall, he now believed she did not inflict the bloody wounds on his friend. Sighing, he added, "She's in the critical care unit... in a coma."

Emerald eyes widened at this revelation. Moving quickly towards the floo, she growled, "For the record, she was quite conscious when I left..." She grabbed a handful of floo powder and added, "And definitely not bleeding."

Tossing the powder into the floo she stated, "St. Mungo's!" With the lithe grace of her feline self, Minerva McGonagall stepped into the fireplace and disappeared.

Hooch scratched her head, "That went well." Snorts and guffaws could be heard from the portraits.

Stepping closer to Draco, she gently patted his shoulder, "I'm going back to the club. I'll help Ang clean up, then we'll pop over to the hospital."

The young man nodded, "I'm going back to St. Mungo's."

-to be continued.