Chapter 25: Thursday blues
Day 4 - Thursday - countdown to the wedding
loivissa17 - Yes! He really does things he shouldn't. Bad boy! I suppose that's what makes him attractive! Hope you enjoy what happens next!
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Malfoy hadn't turned up for work the day before, right after the fiasco at Harry's office. Hermione sighed and looked at herself in the mirror: A white blouse thrown on top of an old pair of jeans and a cardigan. It had been raining again all morning. It was perpetually raining in London. Hermione was angry with Malfoy for his behavior but she was also secretly pleased with some of the information Harry had shared with her. It would help her work out a game plan on how to heal Seamus.
She walked over to her kitchen counter and put the kettle on boil, then she extracted the paper she had been working on, recalling what Harry had told her.
Lucius had run away from the war towards the end after Harry's reincarnation – that much Hermione had seen. He had whisked his family away and wanted nothing more to do with Voldemort. After the light won the war, they rounded up the last of the Malfoys because even though they didn't want to be associated with Voldemort, they had been consorting with him for the longest time, offering him protection and shelter under the Malfoy Manor.
Things had fallen apart for them when Lucius fell out of favour with the Dark Lord and though he always meant for Draco to join him in serving the Lord, he couldn't imagine his only heir dying for the cause he no longer believed in. It was not 'love' for Draco, as most would imagine instead he didn't want to lose the only child who would carry on the Malfoy legacy. That and his character of self-preservation meant they walked out of the war as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
The Gryffindors called them cowards but the Slytherins prided in their innate desire to stay alive. They had no interest in being heroic or sacrificing. So, as soon as the Malfoys were put on trial, Lucius Malfoy begged to be kept out of Azkaban in exchange for information, just like Igor Karkaroff had once done. The process of eliminating of the Death Eater network was a long and complicated process and the news of Lucius being a traitor was spreading fast among his former pals, putting his life and the Ministry's operation in danger. It had become imperative to keep Sr. Malfoy alive and so a fake death story was concocted. Thus, the operation continued under extreme secrecy and most people involved in the midst of the plan had taken the Unbreakable Vow.
Four out of five years since the war, his family too thought Lucius was dead. His wife who had been strong during the war suddenly became withdrawn. The hate from the people, and the death of her husband was too much for her to take and although she and her son had been acquitted on all accounts, with the Golden trio themselves vouching for them, she became a recluse. The death of her husband followed her moving to Paris to her mother and father and leaving Draco in charge of the Manor and to face the Wizarding world alone.
Lucius had also been employed in another purpose that Harry himself had started. As a wizard, Lucius was extremely powerful, as Harry himself had noted several times before, and had an intricate knowledge of the Dark Arts. He was given the task, along with a group of notable spell experimenters, to create stronger spells for defense. The creation of one particular spell, which Harry had personally involved himself with, was a spell that could undo the effects of certain spells – perhaps not the killing curse but other much less long-lasting spells. Harry had, had this idea ever since he had seen the connection between his wand and that of Voldemort. He felt like it would prove productive to look into this kind of magic that splits the very essence of magic. The ones that Hermione had earlier that day talked about with Malfoy. It was crucial to find a way to restore the balance of light spells and dark spells, thus restoring the MPS.
It was all very complex. However, Hermione was glad things were finally underway to help Seamus.
'He was still only twenty three' Hermione mused. She was puzzled why her thoughts kept returning to the one man that she felt immeasurable rage towards. 'Hell, I am only twenty three!' she exclaimed to no one in particular. She was feeling slightly weary. Only three days into the week and so much had happened. This was when the wedding was yet to come. She sighed one last time as if preparing herself for what was to come. She apparated to the hospital after finishing the last of her breakfast and tucking the papers in her bag.
The hospital looked more morose than usual. The white walls usually depressing, looked sickly yellow instead. The drab grey floor was damp in places and the crevices were uncommonly black and grimy. Hermione grimaced as she stepped into a puddle, the bottom of her jeans getting wet owing to the splash she created. She shook her foot trying to get rid of the water, accidentally almost tripping over an empty potions bottle lying around.
'Careful Hermione!' a bumbling, rotund woman plodded to her. She had a concerned look on her face.
'Thanks Greta. I'm fine. What's going on today? The hospital is a mess!'
Greta nodded sympathetically. 'The cleaner passed away this morning.'
'Oh no! What happened?'
'I would like to say natural causes because he was 148 but, unfortunately, he spilt some horrible potion on himself while cleaning. Gruesome really!'
Hermione blanched. 'That's terrible!' It was really terrible. So far, the day wasn't seeming to get any better. She remembered the cleaner. She saw him mostly on days she worked late. The first time she had seen him in the cafe he used a nonverbal spell to hover the chairs and place them on the table by themselves. He was probably overworked because she had rarely known him to make mistakes. Like Filch at Hogwarts, St Mungo's only had one cleaner. It would probably be a while before they would get a new cleaner. Greta's wand beeped. Hermione picked up the bottle she had tripped on and tucked it in her bag, making a mental note to dispose of it, later. For now, something struck her. She moved her plan into action.
'Greta? Would you like to have lunch today?
'I don't see why not! I'll see you at two, Hermione?' she replied hurriedly, waving her wand in a complicated gesture.
'That'll be lovely'
'I have to be off now Hermione, there just so many emergencies to take care off! Honestly, I don't understand how grown men can't brew potions without blowing themselves up!' she muttered as she shuffled down the corridor. Her voice floated up to Hermione who couldn't help but giggle. She went through the corridor, passing by several Healers who she greeted and had small chats with. By the time, she reached her room, she was feeling slightly better. Only slightly though.
'Hermione?'
'Yes Howard?'
'Miss Sara's relatives are here.'
'Brilliant! I'll be right there Howard. Thanks!'
Hermione accio-ed the file for the concerned patient. It was a young lady, who had been in the hospital for a week now, because her sister's son had hurt her in his outburst of uncontrolled magic. She had formed a sweet sort of friendship with her. Her name was Sara. She had a family - a devoted husband, a loving sister, doting parents and a nephew, who although had hurt her had done so unintentionally and, who was rather affectionate towards his only aunt. Hermione felt slightly alone, as she stepped into the room to find Sara's family surrounding her. It was rather noisy. It was substantially happy.
'Hello everyone, it's great to see you all here!' Hermione addressed the family, beaming at them, and then proceeding to take a pre-discharge check-up.
'Hello, Healer Granger! We're taking Sara out for lunch as soon you discharge her. She did say that the hospital food was rather bland' Miss Taia, Sara's sister spoke up.
'Yes, I am afraid that true', she smiled, 'So, all done, you can take her now. Good luck Sara. Be careful!'
'Thanks Hermione.'
'No problem, it was my job. Now, I'll take your leave, I have some work. Good day to you all!'
She left to a chorus of 'thankyous' and 'good days'. Hermione was turning around the corridor, pouring into a file when she slammed into someone. The file overturned and fell to the floor, hitting it with a clatter. Hermione flailed as she was pushed backwards by the collision. She prepared her bum to be sore for a few days, using her hands to brace herself. She shut her eyes. The fall never came. Instead, she felt an arm wrap itself around her waist. She stood motionless for a couple of seconds and when she was sure she was not going to fall, she opened her eyes slowly. It was Malfoy.
'Let go!' she exclaimed, pushing herself away and stumbling. She was about to fall when she grabbed a protruding window frame and steadied herself.
'You should be-'
Malfoy never got to finish his sentence because Hermione rushed away in such a hurry that she left her file behind. He sighed and picked up the folder, then, followed her.
'You left your fil-' and again he was interrupted, only to find Hermione's wand on his throat.
'Get. Out' She enunciated every word. The wand was only rammed further into Draco's throat. Her grip on the wand was vice-like: her knuckles had turned white with the strength.
'Hermio-'
'Don't call me THAT! Call me Mudblood, why won't you Mal-foy!' she spat, baring her teeth. Malfoy raised his hands in surrender.
'I said, Get OUT MALFOY!' her voice travelled from quiet to a scream making him wince.
He took a step towards her, her wand creating a painful hole in this neck. 'I just want to talk.'
'I don't want to talk to you Malfoy' she said irately, her eyes seemed to be on fire, 'so I would advise you to get the hell out of my office or-'
'Hermione, lower your wand.' he ignored her threat. Her eyes bored into him, her lips pressed into a thin line and her hand clutched into her side. Her wand hand remained pointed to his face. He stood his ground. It would seem that they had reached an impasse because they stood stationary for what seemed like hours. Hand jerked downwards once. Then, shakily she returned it to her side. She turned to her side, facing away from him.
'Now, that was-' and for a third time Malfoy never finished what he was going to say as he didn't notice a hand fly towards his face till it a hard blow, thew him backwards. The wind was knocked out of him and sudden pain erupted in face. A 'oomph' and a crack later, blood spurted out of his nose. There was no one to tend to him as Hermione stormed out of the office. He saw stars in the daylight, reminding him eerily of the last time Hermione had broken his nose. His mouth tasted like shit: or more accurately of blood, which tasted like shit. He dug his pockets for the 'kerchief. A soft 'gommon' escaped his lips. 'Come on' he meant but talking wasn't the easiest thing with a broken nose. Finding the handkerchief he stuck it in his nose and then proceeded to search his pocket for the wand. It had fallen out. He sat down on his knees, precariously balancing the napkin on his face while groping around for the wand on the floor. He crawled a little bit, trying to find it without looking because his head was facing the ceiling. He came across an end of wood and pulled. Thankfully, it was his wand. 'Ebishkey' Nothing happened. Perhaps, it was time non-verbal magic. He heard a crack, similar to the one that was followed by his nose being broken, and he whimpered as his bone went back to its original place. A 'scrougify' later, he could gO look for Hermione.
It was still raining yet, he found her outside on the pavement, thoroughly soaked. She had pulled her legs close to her chest. Her arms were wrapped around her legs and her chin rested on her knees. Draco felt ashamed.
'I probably deserved that.' He said, joining her on the pavement. As he folded his legs the water stung his wounds and him in general. It seemed to be lashing out at them and their incompatibility. She nodded. 'Perhaps even more.' he sighed. She nodded again. 'I'm sorry'. Pregnant pause.
It didn't look like she had heard him
'I'm sor-' She nodded, '-ry'
'I hate you' she whispered
He nodded.
She was emotionally spent. 'You wanna have lunch?' he asked getting up, offering her his hand.
She slowly moved her head towards him, squinting against the rain. 'I'm having lunch with Greta'
'We'll figure something out.' He shook his hand in front of her. She took it and they returned inside.
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