The second time Hermione awoke that morning, she was completely alone. The door was shut, but someone had opened the curtains of her window and there was fresh light pouring in over her bed. There was no way for her to gauge what time it was except for the slight bustle she thought she heard coming from the hallway outside. Hermione tried to guess that it was about midmorning, probably during rounds.
She didn't spend too much time debating it, as she still felt as if she had a hangover after waking up in the middle of her cycle. It wasn't as bad as then, but the slight throbbing was a distraction. All she wanted to do was get up and figure out where everyone was, but it was nearly impossible with the after-effects. Her legs and arms were stiff and only just getting feeling back into them. She had just begun raising her arms above her head to stretch her back when Megara came back into the room with a clear drink in one hand, and a coffee in the other.
Smiling at Hermione, she remarked, "Oh good, you're awake," and placed both drinks on the table next to the bed. "The clear drink is what you should take as soon as you can walk again, and the coffee is just to help get some energy back. We need to flush the remainder of the potion out of your bloodstream before we can release you."
"Wouldn't it have just passed naturally?" Even at the top of her class, Hermione was still unaware of many medical practices in the wizard world. She made a mental note to stop by Flourish and Blotts and pick up some medical books on her way from Saint Mungo's.
Megara began tidying up the room as she spoke. "Well, generally, yes. But you witnessed first hand how strong it can be when it remains, so we just like to take precautionary measures. Otherwise, if something did happen, they would just have to sit through it, come back and sleep it off if they preferred, or come back and take the potion we would have given them anyway. It saves a lot more time this way."
Hermione was impressed. She wasn't aware of much of Saint Mungo's did, as Draco and she never spoke much about his job. She also had been only healed by Madame Pomfrey during her time at Hogwarts, and knew enough basic medical training to heal herself when need be, especially when she and Harry had been looking for Horcruxes. "Where is—"
"Mr. Malfoy? He left not long before you woke up. Said he was going to use the Healer bathroom to shower and freshen up."
Hermione blushed slightly, remembering the last time she was aware—or in her mental case at the time—unaware of Draco showering. "I, uh. I meant Harry. Where did Harry go?" She began bending her knees and rolling her ankles, studying herself very carefully as so she wouldn't have to look at Megara's expression after she had blushed.
"Oh, yes. Mr. Potter went to go talk to Barnabus of The Prophet. They've been writing more articles about you, Ms. Granger. We did have a copy that I would have allowed you to see, but Mr. Malfoy promptly destroyed it upon reading the article out loud while you were sedated."
Hermione looked up only to see the anger in Megara's eyes under her, at times, calm Healer tone. She could not even imagine what The Prophet could have said about her to crawl under the young witch's skin like that. Instead of asking what it was about though, Hermione decided it would be best to try and work her way out of bed so she could leave the hospital. As soon as she kicked off the sheets, Megara was by her side ready to grab her if she fell.
"We can do a quick walk around the hospital halls so you can get used to the feeling back in your legs and then loop around so you can take the potion and be on your way." She was smiling again, and held out her elbow so Hermione could balance a little bit better. "The first few steps are usually the hardest. Just let go when you feel comfortable on your own feet."
However it didn't take long for Hermione to release her tight grip on Megara's arm. At first she felt unsteady because of the original heavy nature of the sedative potion, but as soon as the pins and needles left her feet she was able to walk at her usual upright pace confidently and without aid. When the pair had decided to loop around early, as Hermione was obviously fine walking, they heard Draco calling out to them from down the hall. He was dressed in the clothing he had come to Saint Mungo's in still, but his hair was dripping slightly as he rushed to catch up with the pair. He pushed the stray hairs out of his line of vision when he caught up with them.
"Granger, as soon as you are ready to go, Potter told us to head to the Ministry to present any evidence we have found and to discuss our next plan of action before we got back to work." Oh, Merlin, work. Hermione had not even begun to think about getting back to work at all that morning. It had just been a small explosion of emotions inside of her from when she woke up in the middle of her sedation until Draco came up to them. All she could do was nod at him and hope that her hair was a little more put together than it felt. Granted, Harry and Ron had both seen her with her hair in worse situations, but since leaving Hogwarts she felt a need to keep a professional air around the Aurors and other Ministry workers. Then again, she had just been attacked, so maybe she should worry less about what her coworkers thought of her appearance.
The three walked at a steady pace back to Hermione's room where she dressed and prepared herself to leave. Outside, Draco was speaking to Megara to give her some privacy. Or give themselves some. She wasn't particularly sure which it was. Megara had followed her into the room just to reiterate the instructions of the potion and to let her know once she was dressed and ready to join her and "Mr. Malfoy" outside. She wondered what they were talking about, and how they were avoiding reporters that were most likely stalking her room.
She tipped her head back and drank the clear potion in one take. It slipped down her throat in a large clump that seemed to slide like jelly but at the same time felt as if it had stuck like a marble. And as much as she didn't want to admit it, she was still a little upset that this was one of the few potions she had not had the pleasure of studying before joining the ministry. Even though it wasn't anything she would need to know in her field of work. Still though, the potion did make her feel less sluggish and much more prepared to face her coworkers.
Hermione quickly found her bag and joined the two healers outside the room. They were standing just next to the door quietly talking together. Malfoy was leaning against the wall and greeted her with a small cocky smile. It was unexpected, and took her aback at first before approaching the two.
"Are you ready to head back to the ministry?" She tried to hold herself as authoritatively as she could. It was a bit difficult for her to remember what had happened the previous night, so Hermione did what she did best when she had no idea what was going on: she put on her best professional face and got back to her job.
The two said goodbye to Megara and proceeded to walk back to the lobby to apparate to the Ministry. All Hermione wanted to do was ask about the previous night, and what Draco had been talking to Megara about, but she knew it would only give him some sick satisfaction that he had "won" something. So she kept her head high and mouth shut. If she had learned anything from going to Hogwarts—especially with Draco, Ron, and Harry—it's that there were times to rub things in their faces, and times when she knew they could easily hold things over her. And that when they got the opportunity, they did all they could to make her struggle through. As if she didn't work hard enough.
"Did you sleep well last night? Megara tried to make you as comfortable as possible after you woke up." His voice sounded concerned to say the least, but Hermione wasn't buying it. She had been friends with Harry and Ron for too many years to know all too well that when she made mistakes like this, every comment led to a lecture. And Draco was no exception. He was too cocky and set in his ways to let her get away with this.
"Yes, I slept fine." She kept walking and looked dead ahead, not giving him anymore than that.
"Well that's good. Potter was very concerned, although he couldn't stay long."
Hermione just nodded slightly. She wasn't really sure what Draco was trying to insinuate, but she just wanted to get to the office and then go home and relax with her cat. She walked quickly, feeling almost out of place without her robes in the magical place. But that only made her want to get home sooner.
"Granger, slow down. Potter knows you just spent a night in here, there's no need to rush. He'll hold the meeting until we get there." But Hermione just continued walking. She didn't look at Draco, just got into the elevator and stared directly ahead. "Come on, Granger. You haven't given me the cold shoulder like this since we were kids."
"I'm pretty sure a few days ago I kicked you out of my office." Draco sighed in exasperation. Hermione didn't know what else to say to him. It was true that she had kicked him out, but as far as she knew he hadn't done anything to deserve her hate. Except for countless years of torture during their school years. And his extremely cocky attitude that hadn't changed since the day they met.
And then all of a sudden, he stopped the elevator. "Draco, what the bloody hell are you doing?!"
"Hermione you are one of the most annoying, pretentious, uptight woman I have ever met. You don't talk about how you're feeling or any issues or emotions that might come up. Just so you know, the frigid emotionless demeanor is mine. And I know you just got divorced but you need to start letting yourself go. My god woman, it's like you have a pole so far up your ass, or you know, like we are first years again."
"Well the sun sure hasn't been shining out of your ass, Malfoy. And whenever you do try to bring up everything that has happened between us it becomes some sort of sick joke to you." She wasn't even sure what she was feeling anymore. Here she was, stuck in an unmoving elevator with her previous school enemy who for some reason she was worried about what he thought. She couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he actually cared about her, but she didn't want to make that mistake. She couldn't let her guard down. Especially not with a Malfoy.
"Because you don't even talk about it at all, Hermione. You pretend everything that has happened between us is the biggest mistake of your life and making jokes about it is the closest thing I can do to make it feel like what happened, actually did." For the first time in five years, Hermione saw Draco look defeated. The last time she saw him looking like this was after the final battle, when he and his parents sat uneasily in the Great Hall among the other survivors. Although that was the last time she had seen him in person, until the five year anniversary that is. She didn't know how to react to what he said. "You just become embarrassed so easily about the fact that maybe, just maybe, the two of us had an intimate moment and Merlin's beard, Hermione. I know I'm not the type of guy you tell your friends about, but you can't just pretend it didn't fucking happen every single time."
Hermione just stood staring at him. But she didn't have to even try to explain herself. He had already given up on her. Before she could even take a breath he waved his wand and the elevator started up again. "Draco I don't—"
"No, Granger. You don't need to explain yourself. Potter must be beginning to worry." And like that his cold demeanor was back. He looked dead ahead, his back rigid and hands together behind his back. When the elevator chimed 'Saint Mungo's Lobby,' he nodded towards coworkers with Hermione hurrying behind before he held out his arm for her to take and disapparated.
. . . . .
When the two arrived at the Ministry, the crowd parted between them. Except for once no one was giving Draco the time of day. And instead, all of the attention in the room was focused on Hermione. Many gave a small sigh of relief as she walked towards the elevator; others a curt nod, and a few held their hands to their chest in thanks and relief. But Hermione was so lost in trying to decode Draco that she barely acknowledged the others she passed. She knew everything there was to know about, well, everything. But she had never been good with other people or really figuring out what she did wrong with them. She was so good with her logic, but never really honed in on her emotional side.
She was so busy trying to understand what she did to bother him, that she tripped over the cloak of a wizard who seemed like a ministry worker on their first day and grabbed hold of the first thing her hand came in contact with—which happened to be the back of Draco's shirt.
Several wizards and witches rushed to aid her, and the young wizard began pulling up his robes and apologizing profusely, but she only cared about one person's reaction, and she was still holding his shirt. And as her face turned a deep scarlet, she prepared herself for his signature sneer and a, 'nice catch, Granger. Maybe next time you can avoid wrinkling my shirt.' Instead though he gave her a small smile, one that only she could see, and helped her to her feet. It was only a twitch of the corner of his mouth but she caught it just before another Ministry worker interrupted the intimate moment to ask if she was okay.
"I'm fine, I'm okay. I just tripped is all, thank you." She smiled sheepishly to the crowd surrounding her and couldn't help but feel helpless as Draco led her through the throng of people and towards the elevator. She was so caught up in the sudden emotions that she had let her guard down again and was letting him creep into her brain, fogging her proper thinking. But she thought about what he had said in the elevator at Saint Mungo's and knew she had to stop putting up a wall around him all the time, no matter how hard that would be.
They found privacy in the elevator, but only after the small box had flown away from the gaggle of people still trying to escort her. She stood silently by his side, looking nowhere but ahead, and he did the same, the only thing that reminded her he even knew she was there was the hand that still rested just below her shoulders in the middle of her back. It was somewhat comforting, but the rest of his demeanor was stiff. She wasn't sure if he was trying to keep his composure for when they were faced with all of the Aurors Harry had gathered, or if he was just going to return to his old, cold self. But that one gesture was enough to convince her it was because of the former.
The elevator doors opened far too soon, and there was a small gathering of Aurors surrounding Harry as they waited. Most looked anxious, but diverted their attention to she and Draco as soon as the elevator announced the floor. Almost immediately she was surrounded by the echoes of claps and and relieved faces as people welcomed her back, yet she had only been gone for less than a day. Harry had a warm smile for her resting on his face from where he had stayed behind, and she couldn't help but smile back. People who knew her for more than just a war hero actually were worried, and were glad to see her back. It was a good feeling.
She had almost forgotten about Draco holding onto her, until out of no where a tall, lanky redhead came sprinting up and crashed into her, his arms wrapping around her torso. She could feel Draco stiffen further next to her, and instantly became uncomfortable in the situation.
Ron buried his head into Hermione's shoulder and bush of hair. "I'm so glad you're okay, I was so worried."
"If you were so worried you would have been by her bedside last night," Draco muttered under his breath.
Ron let go of Hermione and turned to face the Healer. They were of equal height, and nearly the opposites of one another. Draco was put together, organized, and calm. Ron was always a mess and extremely hot headed. "What did you just say, Malfoy?"
There was silence from Draco's end and Hermione went to move between them. The rest of the Aurors slowly backed away as Harry moved closer, wand at the ready. "I said, if you had been so worried about her safety, you would have been with her last night."
"And how do you know I wasn't? Were you with her, Malfoy?" Ron sneered and made a disgusted expression, as if he couldn't fathom that Draco might have been just as worried as the rest of the world. Which, Hermione gathered, he probably couldn't.
Draco's angry expression softened to one of slight embarrassment before he regained his cool. "As a matter of fact, I was with her. As both a coworker and Healer."
Hermione winced at the coldness of the word 'coworker,' but knew it was the only way he could say he was really there. If people knew he cared about her, especially her, there would be anarchy throughout. Somehow the papers would get ahold of the news and his quiet way of living would be shattered. Besides. It was better than 'mudblood.' He stared directly into Ron's eyes, unmoving, and barely blinking, while Ron's face became redder and redder.
"Are you moving in on my wife?" His nostrils flared and his prominent freckles blended into his cheeks as they became more flushed.
"EX-wife," Hermione intervened. However no one payed attention to what she had said, as Ron had begun to lunge towards Draco, his wand thrown aside. A group of Auror's closest tried to hold him back, and Harry stepped in between the two men. One who stood as calmly and as still has he had when the elevator doors opened, the other more furious than a Hungarian Horntail.
"Potter, I didn't agree to come work for you to be treated in such a way. You promised me he would behave." He nodded towards the fuming Ron who still looked as if he could shoot spells through his gaze. Harry just hung his head and didn't say a word. The room was silent, except for Ron's breathing and small scuffling every few seconds as he tried to break free. "My mother gave me this yesterday. This should be all you need from me. I'll resume my post at Saint Mungo's and get out of your lives." He sent a fleeting look down at Hermione, whose eyes were wide in disbelief. He couldn't leave. They had so much work left to accomplish. She felt as if she was 17 and watching Ron storm out of their tent during the second war. And again, like the previous circumstance, she was helpless to stop him. Draco handed the little black journal to Harry, and stepped away from the group, and promptly disapparated without another word.
Most everyone was speechless, save for Ron, who had a smug look on his face and was beginning to regain control of his arms. "Bloke knew what was coming. He was smart to run."
"Ron this isn't the time." Harry didn't look at his best friend, only at the spot Draco used to stand, and the book he had been given. "We need to get him back."
"Harry. This is the person you followed for a whole year on gut belief that he was aligning with You-Know-Who. We could never trust him. We got what we needed and we need to move on."
He turned to face Ron who was staring in disbelief. "Well my gut now tells me he should be a part of this team. I want a search team sent out now. What we know can wait."
"I can go to the manor to look," Hermione proclaimed. Her eyes were angry and strong again, and she was ready to get back into action. She would not let her ex-husband stand in the way of her happiness anymore. That period of her life was over.
"Are you sure, Hermione?" Harry's green eyes held great concern for his friend. Hermione knew he would let her go if she said she was ready, and she was grateful for his questioning and how he still looked out for her, even though he knew she could handle most anything.
"Positive."
"Okay. Hermione will go to the manor. I'll go to Saint Mungo's. The rest of you keep on the mission but keep your eyes peeled for Malfoy. Contact me as soon as you've found him."
With that the Boy Who Lived walked over to stand next to Hermione, and nodded once in her direction. He was confident, ready, and standing tall as the leader he was born to be. Hermione often looked on with admiration at how much he had accomplished in their time at the Ministry, and was so proud of her best friend. She always knew that no matter what happened, the two would always have each others backs. Since he saved her from the troll their first year, until the bitter end. She nodded back at him to signal she was ready, and the two disapparated, leaving Ron to stare at the empty spaces they left behind.
Author's Note:
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! So I know it's been a while since I updated, but I had most of this chapter planned out for MONTHS and then my hard drive got wiped and I lost Microsoft Word right before school started and since I've been so busy this semester, I hadn't really had time to transfer it all to google docs. BUT last night I really wanted to keep going and transferred everything and HERE WE ARE. AN UPDATE. This chapter is pretty long, but I didn't really know where to end it until last night, and now I have great things in store for the next three chapters. I want to get them done hopefully as quickly as I can, but, like I said, college is hard and I am very busy. If I'm lucky, my Thanksgiving break I can write more but we'll see what happens.
So, basically just the usual. Comment, like, share with friends. I LOVE LOVE LOVE feedback from you guys so give me plenty of that. I will always take suggestions into consideration, and maybe I'll do a shoutout of sorts down here for someone who comments. Although I won't promote a story or such, sorry. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MEGARA AND THE FIGHT BETWEEN DRACO AND HERMIONE, COMMENT COMMENT AND I WILL LOVE YOU.
Happy Halloween and have a spoopy weekend! ~Beadlebug3