The Unity of Opposites

Chapter Forty Two

almost a month apart

Week One

He was staring blankly at the ceiling of the living room. The distant sound of the clock that was hanging on the wall behind him could easily take his hearing away. Bright lights were busting inside the wall-window behind the grand piano. He couldn't remember when was the last time he played or what its melody felt like to his bare fingertips, or how she always sat there and listened to him playing. His jaw clenched - it hardly mattered didn't it - his back was desperately yelling at him to go and lay in his perfectly comfortable, king size bed, but he chose to ignore it, as he kept ignoring it for the past days. He felt lost inside that bed's hug, he felt alone, cold, maybe a bit scared too, but he wasn't ready to admit it yet.

The flask holding the dittany based healing potion Blaise prepared especially for him was resting untouched inside the hand of his wounded arm. Blaise enchanted his sling, changed its colour too, now tightening around his torso every time Draco made a sudden move, a painful or even a stupid one. He should laugh with that thought, shouldn't he? But it simply mattered little. Everything mattered little. Everything had turned into a black and white scenery, never adopting another shade like it used to when she was with him. She was a bathing fucking rainbow, his rainbow, that took everything with her when she left, and now nothing seemed to be important enough.

The perfectly folded letter she left behind was hiding inside his other hand. She had used his own parchment, his own ink and quill, his own desk to write it. Her perfect written words forming the very hurtful arrow that slide his heart in two - his jaw tightened and his eyes finally blinked, fighting back the urge to cry. Frankly, he might have lost some tears yesterday night when she didn't come home - but he was not going to admit it either.

An empty firewhiskey bottle was on top of the coffee table. Another one between his legs, holding two, maybe three fingers of golden liquid. He had drunk it all, he was not going to lie about it. Blaise had ordered him not to drink any alcohol for the rest of the month, but his mind was screaming him the possibility for her gone to be permanent and the losing her forever. His jaw clenched and the flask broke inside his hand. He cursed. The liquid absorbed by the exposed skin and his chest filled with hundred small pieces of glass. He tried to move and the sling tightened. He cursed again. With a sudden move he took it off, throwing it somewhere in the cornered sofa. The round wound around his shoulder was pink and bruised at some places. He was hurting, too much, too many times, but he felt he deserved it. Blaise promised to heal the scar to the very best outcome as he did with the rest of his cuts, expect the biggest across his collarbones, which he had joked about when they came home from the hospital, telling her how many women will turn on by only showing off his battle wounds - was that the reason she left?

His jaw tightened and he felt anger boiling slowly under him. He tried to grab the glass with the last sip of firewhiskey - right, he was drinking from a glass before starting to drink directly from the bottle, where were his manners? His heart fell at the sight of the ring. She had said it stuck to her finger. How cute she looked when she told him that. Draco had smiled to her, knowing perfectly well what it meant, and took it out effortless. Who could warn him about her leaving him? ''Fuck.'' he cursed and felt wetness travelling down the side of his face, reaching the earlobe. He shivered and told himself to trust her in this one - it couldn't be in his imagination? It couldn't be the only one with feelings in this relationship, could it? He had to trust her, he really had to, even if his mind was telling him to lose control and assume the very worst; she left him for good.

He stood up with determination and slightly yell as his right arm fell from his torso. It wasn't fully healed and remembering Blaise's orders about sober days, it might need some more time. It was not fine with him, to be honest, he wanted that fucking sling off, Hermione back and everything to go back to normal. His leg started to bounce - small agonized doses started to flood his mind as the once again worn off idea of her never coming back blocked every reasonable excuse for her disappearing.

A windy sound made his spinning head turn to see his owl flying towards him with a package and a letter. He threw it in his hug and rested in the back of the sofa, demanding some petting. Draco smiled and offered some caressing only to see him leaving again. ''No you too, you fucking traitor.'' he whispered and looked at the sling on the other side of the sofa. He stood up and grabbed it, wearing it on him and carefully placing his hurting arm inside. At once it felt it tightening around him, offering care. He sighed, feeling it relaxed once again.

He took the package in his hand and rolled his eyes. Pansy had sent him yet another get better gift, this one being a potion with peppermint flavour, focusing in the boosting of the immune system. ''Where does she find those things?'' he asked and his eyes scanned its content. Smellless, colourless liquid for your likes, her note was saying and he made a note to visit her soon and complain about her behaviour. Maybe he can tease her about those gifts, reminding her who she is marrying in two months and who is not her crush anymore to receive gifts. The very first smile in two days curved his face, but he didn't notice it. The letter had Enterprise's stamp on the front.

Stop fucking Granger and come to work, was all it was saying. Draco crumbled it and without noticing he burned it inside his palm.

ΛVΛ

They had a meeting. Who could ever imagine Adrian would be inspired from those Muggle magazines he told Hermione to subscribe him? He knew he shouldn't allow him to partly mugglefied his company, but how much easier was it to gather previous agenda's reviews, set new ones, agrees on actions and take feedback from all his departments and their agenda - ''Mr Malfoy?'' Adrian talked to him, passing a paper in front of him - pay attention - it was written on it and Draco nodded. He wanted to pay attention, but he was too drunk and his head was spinning too fast, making his stomach mimic it.

He looked at the Head of his Development Department, talking about the new potion they were planing to start producing, its kind no one had ever seen in the Wizarding World. It was a potion he inspired when he was under the very influence of morphine. He would call it Pseudomagical potion, maybe call it numb in slag - its main goal would be to calm the patient, creating tiny crystals that observe the pain.

When he had shared his idea to Hermione, she simply smiled kindly and told him how proud she was for him. And she meant it. He could see it in her eyes, tasted it to her kiss, feel it in her touch.

''Great.'' he nodded at the Head of the Department and his team. ''Everything seems great.'' he nodded again, his voice husky and a bit low, ''Run your tests, your - '' his eyes searched the parchment Adrian gave him with the details of the project, resting next to the note he just have him. No, he couldn't pay attention. He couldn't do anything at the moment, he couldn't concentrate, he couldn't think straight, he just couldn't. He was in pain, physically, but emotionally as well - and that pain was decorating his face like freshly made piercing. He looked at the people around him, their hungry eyes were waiting for his answer, but at this very moment, he only had questions. ''Can you please leave?'' he asked in a not very polite way, covering his face in his hand because he knew Adrian could see right through him. ''I am not feeling very well.'' his hoarse voice followed everyone out of the new meeting room Adrian was so proud of.

He felt him standing next to him. ''What? What's wrong?'' he was concerned, too concerned from any other time. ''Is it your arm? Should I call Blaise - '' Adrian's lips sealed when Draco rose his eyes to see him, recognizing something he had seen too many times before, but thought was long gone now.

''No.'' he slightly shouted. Adrian frowned and Draco felt guilty and mad for an unknown reason. He wanted to tell him she was gone, he wanted to share his pain with him, something he had never done before - he looked at his best mate, his eyes might have scanned the face of the man who helped him numerous times, now looking back at him confused. ''I - '' his jaw clenched and his hand curled tighter around the letter he was carrying in the pocket of his slacks. ''I will be home.'' he said to him and stood up, ignoring the dizziness, the drunkness and the way he was calling him.

ΛVΛ

He went to her old house again, wishing she was there, but of course she wasn't.

He didn't want to move a muscle. Everything was hurting, every inch of his body was aching, and all that for this stupid fucking sofa that looked fancy for only some hours of sitting, or fool around with Hermione, or play piano as Hermione was watching from here, or reading next to her, or drinking tea - but that sofa was not for sleeping. Definitely not sleeping.

His good hand rose and he took a sip from his firewhiskey. He shouldn't drink, he should eat something, but there was a void in his heart that couldn't be replaced with anything, and right now that void wanted to be drunk.

On top of the table there was a new flask with healing potion Blaise sent him, along with a small note, warning him not to wear off himself. He knew what that meant - ''fuck,'' he cursed and he emptied the glass he was holding, pouring more firewhiskey. He cursed again as it was about to overflow, and he rushed to take a sip.

The door of her old room was open. He didn't dare to walk there. As he still couldn't walk to the main bedroom, feeling it alive or maybe ghosted from her absence - well, except to get dress that was, because frankly, he couldn't just keep accio his clothes, could he? He ran his fingers through his hair, some long locks fell and licked the side of his face. The smell of freshly baked pie and cooked pork was making his stomach sound. He should eat, he really, really should eat, but when he stood up to walk to the kitchen, his eyes couldn't leave from her old room.

How did she say it? His bedroom was too cold to enjoy it? Or was something about how her old room was much more pleasing than his? Great, now he was walking there, slowly, as if the place was cursed and he was innocent enough to get cursed. Maybe he should. Maybe that could lead her out of her hiding spot and towards him.

The morning light was covering every inch, making him wonder why on earth she liked that red in the bed's covers, curtains and carpet - clearly it was too much from him. A deep breath made his eyes sparkle for only a second - some of her clothes were still in the closet, some of them even smelling like her. His hand rose to them, carefully feeling something else than emptiness. Another deep breath, this time filled his lungs with his now favourite vanilla scent. Every single bath gel she had was vanilla based - even her personal perfume. He fucking hated how much he loved it. ''Where are you.'' he whispered to himself, pouting.

The dress she wore to the opening of the Wizarding museum was resting gently inside the closet - how amazing she looked that night. How many had wished to be him when he was talking to her, or even stood next to her. How many were jealous of him because of her. The way she was shining that night made him smile - she was like a sun, blocking everything and anyone around her, blurring them out, leaving place only for her to exist to his eyes and mind. The expensive velvet fabric sent a shivering wave down his spine that disappeared rather quickly. The image of her blushed face under him popped in his mind - how effortless she offered him pleasure? Not only in sex - mentally, emotionally pleasure. She kept fucking his mind first and then him - who could ask for something else?

The void inside of him roared. Something wetted his hand and he looked at the filled glass of firewhiskey he was still holding. He took a good full sip and then took another one. His liver sent distress signals to his whole body, but he didn't care - it might as well be from the way he misses her. Because he does. He misses her so fucking much. He wants her, now. Why would she need the space for? Why would she need to be away from him? And what does it mean? Why did she have to leave?

The light ticking of her watch made his eyes blink too many times. He left the glass aside to take it in his hand. She might have forgotten it when she snicked out of the house - he snorted. What house, clearly this is not a house without her. ''Loft.'' he mumbled and held it in his hand as he walked to his bedroom to get dressed. Go to the Enterprise was a good idea all of the sudden.

ΛVΛ

Draco wished good morning to Mr Galactius and walked out of his private elevator, his one good arm on his sides, awkwardly attached to his body, as his hand was hiding inside the pocket of his black slacks, holding her watch, the one she had left and he claimed, wanting to have something else from her, and not only the hundred times read letter, which it was resting in his inner pocket of his blazer. He walked with his head low, his eyes never leaving the shining oxfords he was wearing, the pair that looked perfectly odd to be matched with that navy suit, but he didn't notice it - as he didn't notice Adrian pulling away from Draco's secretary. His eyes were a bit dark and red, and his whole body was actually screaming for a good night sleep, but Draco didn't care to listen, not when she was not there, with him, not when she was away, doing Merlin knows what, smiling at Merlin knows who, speaking, laughing, breathing next to someone else - his heartbeat fasten and his anger reached unknown levels.

''Hey baby - ah!'' Adrian's mouth dropped and his amusement gone when Draco rose his head. A tone, maybe two, darker than his unique silvery-blonde hair, beard started to grow around his jawline, neck, above and under his lips, cowardly starting to appear on his cheeks as well, where he never had in his teenage years, now looking jewel-worthy in his face.

''What.'' he wanted to ask, but he couldn't, as his drunk mind was only giving him one order at a time, and now he was busy enough looking the horrified, yet surprised gaze in both Adrian's and Thalia's faces. He wanted to frown, maybe question why he was here when he wasn't, Merlin knew how much he wanted it, but he was drunk enough to do it and tired enough to actually show a facial expression different than the old favourite Malfoy stone mask he had learned to wear from his father.

''Nice.. change.'' Adrian tried to encourage him, extended his hand to rub his fingers against the hard, dangerously growing beard under his chin.

''What are you doing - '' Draco pushed his hand back and his eyes widened when he felt the thick, wild hair on him. Fuck. When was the last time he shaved?

''I mean,'' Adrian tried to keep a straight face, ''it does look good!'' his voice was filled with encouragement, maybe as a disguised to his slow panicking mind, his gaze finally noticing the navy coloured shirt he was wearing. ''When was the last time you shaved?'' he asked and Draco frowned. Before she left, he thought and opened his mouth to say it, only to feel his heartbeat fastened inside his chest, finally sending much needed blood to his head as it had started to spin for the last half an hour, uncontrollably fast.

How long has it been since he saw himself in the mirror? Dizziness was starting to blank several spots of his sights and, by mistake, his eyes finally realized what kind of shoes he was wearing. He blushed - it didn't match his whole outfit - and was that the navy shirt his mother accidentally bought instead of the pitch black under his black suit? He took a big deep breath and looked at his friend's worry eyes. He had been calling him for a while now, but his ears were blowing.

''When was the last time you slept Draco?'' Adrian asked him and wished they were alone, as he was starting to notice signs of when he had depression.

''It's none of your business Pucey.'' he fired back and stormed inside his office, never noticing how he left his friend with a dropped mouth and a fast working mind around the question; is he depressed again? It couldn't be, could it? He was fine, he was happy, wasn't he? He was coping with everything on his own, unique way, and there was Hermione Granger, wasn't there? Everyone had said, and seen, how much she helped him the past months, how he was his better, improved self. How much calmer and opened he was to people around him -

''Fuck.'' Adrian whispered and looked at Thalia, her eyes were still looking at the opened doors of his office with a bit shock, making Adrian snap out of it. ''Is it because of that git, Krum?'' he asked walked behind him, his tall body was standing behind his desk, his eyes lost in one of the frames decorating it.

''Who is Krum?'' Draco sincerely asked, never taking his eyes off her beautiful face as she was next to him, kissing his cheek, her one hand slightly wrinkling his lower face and dominantly pulling him to her, her other around his shoulders, keeping him close to her. He was smiling in that Muggle photo. He was happy. He was holding her on top of him, feeling the distance unbearable, wanting to be with no one else than her.

''You had a boy-crush on him! Victor Krum!'' Adrian laughed, ''What happened? Did he letter her and you got a bit jealous - ''

''Why on Salazar's hell, Victor Krum would letter Granger?'' he asked and as if someone had warned him, his head stopped spinning for the second time, even fighting back the drunk-headache that was about to hit him harder than what his friend was about to say.

''They used to date.'' he snorted, only to regret it in nanoseconds when Draco's stone, unexpressed face stiffened even more, his right hand turned into a fist, sending pain signals to his head. ''You didn't know - ''

''Where is he?'' Draco spoke through clenched teeth and walked towards Adrian, tripping on the carpet and hitting his knee at the desk's leg. He cursed and Adrian rushed to go to him.

''Mate, what happened - '' his voice broken when Draco grabbed his collar with his good arm, pulling him closer to him. ''Draco, what the f - ''

''Where is he staying?'' the warning in his voice was not as alarming as his gaze. His once expensive body scent was covered by firewhiskey. ''Where is he - ''

''In one of your hotels downtown - Emerald!'' he told him and Draco started to walk fast out of his office, ''Where the fuck you're going? We have a meeting!''

ΛVΛ

He stood in the middle of his loft. His knees were weak, his head was hurting, his arm was screaming inside the fucking sling. He took it off, never letting his arm free as it was still rather sensitive to do so. He took his blazer off with great care, awkwardly throwing it on top of the sofa that was his bed for the past days, following by his shirt. The shoes were off faster than he told himself to, realizing he was on autopilot.

Twelve hours he waited in his hotel for Krum to show up, drinking every agonized second away, and when he finally did, he was escorted by a rather questionable figure, that had nothing to do with his girl.

What had gotten into him? Why did he think Hermione could cheat on him? Between drunk thoughts and pain, he realized it would be better to see her with someone else rather than knowing she left him for space - for space? he questioned himself and he let out deep breaths. He knew how she felt about him because he felt the very same - he was in love with her, and she was no where to be found. What they have is real, isn't it? His nails stabbed inside his palm, fearing her existence and feelings being an illusion - he hurt. She is real, her feelings were real, there was nothing wrong with their relationship, it was a real one, a strong one, a huge one.

''Where the fuck are you.'' he covered his face with his hand and he might or might not cry that night.

ΛVΛ

''Why the fuck are you behaving like an ass - '' Adrian's lips sealed the moment he saw his dear friend sitting behind his desk, a frame he guessed it wasn't their own photograph closer to him, his good hand holding a glass of firewhiskey, his eyes never daring to blink. Adrian rose his hand to see the watch he now wore everywhere he went - it wasn't even ten in the morning, did he even go home? His torso was dressed with a lighter coloured than yesterday shirt, his hair was neat, but no near perfectly combed as he used to style them, and of course his beard and moustache were now connecting as facial hair started to appear more, covering half of his face. ''You cannot drink while taking healing potions you fucking idiot!'' Adrian snapped as the order Blaise gave him popped in his head. Draco protested when the glass was taken away from him, but found himself to be weak and tired to fight back. Adrian sat down in one of the chairs in front of him, a smirk appeared on his face as he took a sip from his drink. ''That's the good stash you wanker, isn't it - ''

''She's gone.'' he finally said, his voice low, lower than a whisper, almost soundless, feeling the words hurting his whole existence as he spoke them out loud. He didn't know if he heard him or not, but he was looking at him. The glass was still close to his lips, the second sip he had taken was burning his mouth because it took him a while to swallow.

Adrian frowned, maybe because he didn't know what else to do. ''Who is gone - ''

''Granger!'' he spoke with no breath left to his burning lungs. His lips pouted and he swallowed hard again, his adam's apple following the move. ''Granger is gone, she - '' his head kept pounding from the tiredness, but not like his heart that jumped in his chest as if it was a rabbit's, fighting for his life. ''She left me Adrian.'' his eyes started to fill with tears, the kind he had shown only once before, when he was trapped inside the darkest days of his life, along with pills, broken glasses, and alcohol. ''She left me.'' the words started to feel much more real than it should be and his tongue ran around his mouth, wanting to get licked by burning numbness, fearing of what else it might spoke now that he had started.

''What? Are you - '' Draco threw him a piece of paper. It took him a while to react, as his mind had already started to prepare a plan for her destruction - yes, why deny it? He might like her as a person, but watching Draco like this reminded him a time he so hard fought to forget. His eyes scanned it, cowardly, never wanting to leave Draco out his sight, as the fear of losing him suddenly started to appear in blood and flesh in his mind. He was reading a word, then looking at Draco, then reading another word - that is not going to work. He finally scanned the paper three, maybe four times, reading her need for space and a moment alone, promising she will come back soon. ''She says - ''

''Is she?'' he cut him and grabbed the letter back to his hand with a pained expression that Adrian knew it wasn't coming from his arm. ''It's been a week Adrian. A week!'' he tried to keep himself controlled, but he failed. His head was pounding, his heart was skipping beats, he wasn't feeling very well - his stomach starting to get sick. ''Why isn't she here?'' he folded it with great care, believing it will be the very last thing he'll have from her. ''She left me.'' he repeated with greater sorrow than before.

Adrian frowned for a second, watching his pale skin turning to a see-through. He had to talk to Blaise, but first, he had to make him sleep and stop drinking for a solid twenty four hours. ''Did you look after her?'' he asked and Draco nodded, telling him how many times he visited her house this week. ''Did you go to her parents' house?'' his time Draco looked at him blankly.

''Should I?'' he asked confused.

''Well, if she isn't at her house..'' he breathy laughed, ''And she looks like a person who adores her parents greatly.'' he watched Draco's eyes sparkling, and for a brief second he cursed himself, not wanting to think what will happen if she is not there. ''Not now!'' he rushed to stand up as well, and thank Merlin he was drunk enough to not move faster. ''Believe me, the last thing you want is your future family-in-law to see you like this.'' the laughter came rather unbothered and Draco looked offended for only a second. ''You wear two different pieces of clothes, you are drunk and I am pretty sure you have to shower in ages. Come, you will sleep with me tonight.''

ΛVΛ

This is a bad idea, he thought and cursed himself for what Adrian talked him into. He took a big breath, trying to relax himself for what was about to follow. Bad, bad idea, he said again and closed his eyes, the sunny afternoon made him feel like an outsider among the light dressed people in her old neighbourhood.

Once again, Adrian had proven to be the friend he felt guilty having, as he had thought too many times how much he was offering him and how little Draco offering back. He had stayed at Adrian's house for two days and to his surprise, he actually kept him sober, well feed and rested. He liked Adrian's house, it was much warmer than the last time he came and much more comfortable. He felt a bit nostalgic, remembering how much the three of them used to stay in one's house when they were younger, eating at midnight when they were supposed to sleep, steal firewhiskey from their father's stash, flying around their properties after hours and many many other things that made the both laugh yesterday night, and Draco's void less painful for only a second.

A woman walked by him and ogled him for some time, making Draco look at himself. Adrian dressed him properly today, remind him how black is his happy colour and actually putting proper oxfords on his feet, telling him how good he looked too many times. He tried to shave him too, but to their surprise, Draco didn't let him. He might have thought he looked good when he finally saw his reflection in Adrian's mirror this morning.

''You are standing here for a while.'' the woman told him and Draco took his eyes off the familiar entrance of her parents' house to see the older woman with sportwear pacing on the same spot while talking to him. ''Do you need any help? Are you lost?'' she asked and she offered a smile that was not kind at all. ''My daughter, Karen can help you out if you want.'' she pointed at the younger woman behind her and Draco frowned, wondering if that Karen was the one Hermione told him about.

''She doesn't look promising.'' he offered a charismatic smile at the old woman who look shocked enough to even stop her spotted pacing. His chest filled with prideful air, and walked with determination towards the dark brown coloured door of her previous house, wanting nothing more than to see her behind it. Without even noticing, he had already knocked twice, and his mind ordered him to breath. Fast beating heart made him take a step back, fearing of what might happen if she is not there.

He knocked it again, this time smiling to himself as the word ducklin came to his mind. Her mother called her like this, no? ''Hello?'' her father opened the door of their house and Draco looked at him with a fast fading away hope. ''Malfoy the Slytherin, isn't it?'' he spoke with excitement, making Draco offer half smile.

''Hello sir.'' he greeted and his old face fell at the noticing of his sling.

He acted fast to rest his already extended hand on his free shoulder, squeezing it once. ''Long time no see.'' he smiled at him, noticing how forthcoming it might look to him. ''What happened to your arm?'' he asked with an obvious concern.

''Small accident, sir.'' he nodded once and looked at him doing the same. ''I am sorry if I am disturbing you - ''

''What, no!'' he cut him off, laughing out loud and noticing the newspaper under his arm. ''I finish with it, don't worry.''

Draco nodded at him, his heart started to beat faster than before. He cleared his throat and put his good arm behind his back, carefully bringing the words Adrian instructed him with to his mind. ''I was wondering if I could speak to Granger.'' he rushed to take his eyes off him, feeling his cheeks burning.

''Which one?'' he joked and regretted it the moment Draco's eyes revealed a defeated gaze. ''I don't believe she is here.'' he rose his hand to see the watch he was wearing. ''Isn't she at work?'' he asked, but there was no concern in his voice. Draco frowned and looked at the old man standing in front of him. This is where she takes her trust from, he thought and wondered how many times her parents might be worried sick for her sake, whereabouts and well-being.

''No.'' Draco said in a whisper, maybe a bit ashamed as well, thinking how his responsibility was to protect her and now failed. ''I - '' he cleared his throat, his cheeks had found their previous red colour to paint his face. ''I cannot find her.'' he spoke with shame again, taking his eyes off her father and missing the way he looked at him, as his behaviour reminding him of his very own, years ago, when he went and asked Mary's hand from her father.

Mr Granger smiled - not only for his courage to come all the way here to find his daughter, but for the way he felt responsible for her whereabouts. He thought he should be alarmed, but he knew Hermione well enough to know when he should be worried or not. ''She is a challenge, isn't she.'' that made Draco rose his eyes to see the smug face of her father. ''Well, don't stand there! Come along.'' he stood aside to let him go inside. ''We can watch the missing game together and see if she'll come later.'' he encouraged him to walk inside, but Draco's eyes had stuck to his.

''Would be alright if I did?'' he asked with a bit of fear in his voice, making him smile.

''Of course!'' he put a hand on shoulder, walking him inside the house. ''Mary is still at the hospital, her shift doesn't end till midnight.'' he smiled at him, closing the door behind them. ''Here, let me help you.'' he rushed to wrap his arm around his wounded arm, helping him take his blazer off first and then wear the sling again.

''Thank you, sir.'' he felt a bit ashamed for causing him to worry, but his eyes were too kind to make him believe in that thought.

''Call me Gregory. Family and friends call me Gregory.'' he smiled and walked to the kitchen first. ''Would you like a beer?'' Draco looked at him surprised and without noticing it, he smiled.

''Like a Muggle one?''

''Is there any other kind?'' he laughed a bit, watching Draco awkwardly walking in the room as well. ''I had butterbeer once. It's a mystery you people don't have diabetes.'' he joked and laughed again when Draco frowned at the foreign word. ''Here.'' he offered him a green bottle that was cold enough to make him frown again. Gregory cheered his bottle to Draco's watching him closing his eyes in perfect pleasure.

Draco took his very first sip, feeling the bubbly liquid tickle the inside of his throat. ''That was bitter.'' he breathy laughed and Gregory put a hand on his shoulder again, walking him to the living room where the tv was opened and a paused image was trembling inside.

''Do you like football?'' he asked him and Draco breathed in, not even knowing what that was. He pushed a button on the remote and the image started to move again, people were waving a sheet in the middle of a green field.

''What they do exactly?'' he asked when people now started to run inside the field, high-fiving other people and waving at others. He felt his interest increase as they all stood in line at the hearing of melodies.

''There are two teams in every match.'' her father started to explain, ''See each goal at the end of the field? Those held the position of the goalkeepers - ''

''Each of the opposite team?'' he asked with rose brows and he swore he had never seen a man prouder than Gregory Granger.

''Right, you get it!'' he smiled at him and took a sip before continue his explaining, ''So every team has eleven players and they are after the ball. The team with the more goals wins.''

''So it is like Quiddtich, but they run?'' he asked, wondering how long the field is, but that was his second question.

''Pretty much, yes.'' Gregory laughed again, almost finding it adorable how he was paying attention to his sport talking.

''For how long?''

''Ninety minutes.'' he said and Draco gasped, choking with his beer. ''Yes, don't get me started when there is a time out.'' he actually spoke with a bother, starting to tell him all about the referees and their doings, the fouls and the regulations. Draco managed to understand everything to his surprise and even if he didn't know how, he found himself being extremely intrigued from the game.

''I like sports.'' he said at last, as the referee was talking to both of the teams, fearing he might disturb his watching. ''I mean I like Quiddtich. I used to play back in Hogwarts and some Saturdays we might form our old team for some rounds.'' he smiled at himself, remembering the last time they played and Blaise threw him off his broom.

''Me and some neighbour doctors in our building we have our own team. The Dental Flossers.'' he frowned when Draco snorted.

''Why not the Jaws?'' he offered and Gregory looked at him surprised, but amused too, not wanting to admit how much better it sounded. ''There are only these two teams?'' he asked when they took their positions and the ball started to run around the field, touching every leg and foot.

''No, there are too many teams!'' he spoke with excitement and took the remote to freeze the game. He explained about the teams and the national teams and the smaller championships, never missing the fascination in Draco's face. ''So this is UEFA final right - ''

''UEFA?'' Draco asked when he snapped out of the sudden magic trick he performed.

''Union of European Football Association. It's one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.'' the happiness was not left unnoticed from the both of them and he made himself much more comfortable next to him.

''Like the Quiddtich World Cup?'' he asked amused.

''Yeah, with some differences, but yes.'' he looked at him with pride once more, ''We have England versus France here, and it's finally coming home to - ''

''I am French.'' Draco said without thinking about it twice and Gregory lowered his hand with the beer in it. His eyes scanned his face, something telling him he shouldn't have said that. ''Well, partly.'' he found himself struggling to get the words out of his mouth, as Gregory's eyes were burning the previous pride away. ''From my father's side.''

''Like, half French?''

''More of a one fourth.'' the plead in his voice made Draco smirk and Gregory nodded after his eyes moved from head to toe.

''Let's watch the game.''

ΛVΛ

Blaise said goodbye to one of his younger patients and closed the door to his room. He turned around, only to make a weird, surprised sound. ''Did you miss me?'' he asked Adrian, who offered him a cup of coffee. He had another eighteen hours of work, plus the eighteen he spent in the hospital - ''Thanks.'' he spoke with a sigh, feeling the warm cup inside his hand pleasant. His free hand rose to rub his eyes and put some pressure on the bridge of his nose.

''Stella told me you are here.'' he explained and Blaise put an arm around his shoulders, finally noticing the cup on Adrian's hand, the very same liquid licked the walls of it when he cheered his paper cup to Adrian's, knowing his mate was not the coffee drinking type. He had said too many times he hated it, and even if Blaise was trying to introduce him to the power of espresso, he was refusing.

Blaise was now frowning at the sight of actual coffee in his paper cup and even sniffed it twice to believe in his eyes, thinking his overworking mind was playing games with him. ''Who are you fucking?'' he looked offended, but his voice was coloured with amusement. He took his arm off his shoulders, only to feel Adrian's around his. He smirked, knowing he will not say anything about it yet, because when it was coming down to secrecy, Adrian was the king.

''We have a problem.'' he whispered to him, not wanting to answer his question, not only because he was not ready to reveal it yet, but mostly because they had a bigger issue than who he was fucking. Blaise walked them to the small office he had in the hospital, and he gasped at the sight of a light blue shirt in Adrian's hand.

''What is that!'' he slightly yelled, feeling his tiredness fading away. ''Why do you keep that in your pocket?''

''It's Draco's!'' Adrian laughed with Blaise's reaction, knowing it will like this.

''No, it's not! Draco's happy colour is black - no!'' his lips dropped and looked at the nodding head of Adrian. ''No.'' he repeated and cowardly touched the light coloured shirt only to feel shivers down his back. He moved away from him, not wanting his eyes to blind. ''That's colour Adrian! Actual colour - you can't throw it away!'' he yelled at him when his best mate threw it in the trash can.

''He won't mind it. He bought a lot of those fuckers - ''

''What?'' Blaise yelled and looked at his trash can.

''That's not only it, he has a beard now. And a moustache.'' he watched Blaise's mouth drop, ''He actually looks good - ''

''I thought he was unable to grow a beard.'' Blaise narrowed his eyes, ''Like how - '' his hand pointed at his face, waiting to be shown. Adrian touched his cheeks, jawline, chin, leaving the skin about the lip for last. ''Why is he sad? What happened?'' he looked a bit shocked, trying to remember when was the last time he had seen his best friend after his hospitalization. Adrian's sigh made his mind snap out of that thought and focus on the words coming out of his mouth. Some were a bit funny, others were targeting Granger and some were just familiar. Too familiar. Words that were reminding of another Draco, a weaker one, a boy who thought he had no future, no purpose.

The letter Adrian had stolen from Draco was resting in his hands - he understood what she meant with space, with time to think. She needed to process what happened, she needed to understand how vulnerable their lives are, how much they can lose in a blink of an eye. He had seen that realization to many of his patients and their family, and it would be a lie to say he hadn't seen it to Hermione the moment she walked to Draco's room and he was awake. ''She will come back.'' Blaise folded the letter in half and gave it to Adrian.

''Will she?'' he even notice the doubt in his voice. Even if he had sensed how much in love she was with Draco, she had left. Who can tell with a certain guarantee she will come back to him. ''I mean - ''

''She was holding him while dying, mate!'' Blaise said, closing his eyes. The image of Draco's bloody body inside the police car was never leaving from his head. ''I don't believe she had the time to consider what happened - ''

''Please, we both were there when he cut his veins!'' he spoke the image he couldn't forget. ''When took those pills - ''

''We were not in love with him Adrian!'' Blaise slightly yelled even though he knew he shouldn't. He extended a hand only to place it on his forehead. He put some pressure, feeling a strong headache coming fast. ''She loves him, mate, she does.'' he sighed, watching Adrian nod. He knew it. He had sensed it too. ''Hermione is, complicated, but - '' his lips sealed. He didn't know what to say to describe her, even if he knew Adrian had formed his own idea. He felt his need to blame her fading away. Deep down, he might have already understood why she left.

''I like her.'' he confessed with a bit of shame for thinking she will not come back. ''She is alright.'' he said and Blaise nodded with a breathy laugh. He knew it would be difficult for him to admit it, especially when he was the one caring the most about who Draco will choose to give his heart to.

''We can make him drunk.'' Blaise offered, but frowned when Adrian put a hand behind his neck. ''What?''

''He had been drunk.'' he nodded too many times, ''Several days this week, if not the whole week.'' he grinned and Blaise let out a disappointing breath. Adrian walked to his desk and sat on top of it, crushing down some papers.

''Wanker.'' he whispered, both for Adrian and Draco. He had brew him so many potions, that's why his healing was taking forever to do. ''Take him off England for the rest of the week, come here.''

''I have plans this weekend!'' Adrian looked offended.

''Cancel them - ''

''You come to England.'' he offered and he took his eyes away when Blaise pointed at his wedding ring.

''I can't take days off the hospital, I promised Stella a month vacation - ''

''If you don't come there will be a funeral - ''

''Draco's?'' he asked in perfect horror.

''Yours.'' Adrian caressed his cheek and offered a rather charming smile.

''You are a year older, you cannot boss me around anymore! We are not in Hogwarts - ''

''Love you! Bye!'' he said in a singing voice, opening the door of his office to disappear at the hallway.

''Who are you fucking?'' he yelled at him, some nurses looked surprised and in great distance he could still hear Adrian's laughter.