The week had gone quickly. Draco found himself standing in front of three different men that seemed to be having some control or say of how this war was going. With his father having gone and reached out to every big wig that he could think of he had been called to join these men after a week of being back on the New York strip. At first his anxiety was past any normal limits for a human being to endure. His eyes were flicking everywhere, he could feel the sweat dripping off him, and he found himself jumping nearly every time someone brushed past him. He was roomed with a couple of guys that were new to the area and were lost on why they'd have someone with such a noticeable limp going through a war. They saw it as a weaker status.
Draco had of course tried to get his feet under him, he needed to make sure that he wasn't so jumpy, he didn't need to give himself away as he was out on patrols. And the one that he was usually partnered with just couldn't understand why he was so jumpy, thinking that he could take on anyone that came in and attacked. No matter how many times Draco insisted there was things that no healer had encountered they just waved it off. He couldn't understand how being in a war and being young they didn't show the nerves or the fear that most of the people he had known in Hogwarts.
"The healers have told us that you are in healthy shape. They do recommend a bit of psychological help, thinking that you are dealing with a bit of PTSD with the last attack on the city." Draco felt himself glare at the men before him. "It is nothing to do with my head. I have found it has nearly crippled me! I came to help and, in the process, nearly lost my life and now have lost function of a leg." The men continued to flip through his file. "For now, as stated we have both our doctors and your doctors telling us that they have found nothing. And therefore, you are clear for active duty." Draco felt himself sag a bit. These men just needed bodies. And they'd use it in what way they could. He could leave, but he'd just make it worse. His family name would be branded with Death Eater and coward.
"We will have you doing a weekly therapy session and they will tell you your next meeting with them. If they request more time with you then fine and they will report It to us." Draco kept glaring and finally gave a small nod. "My secretary outside the door will be more than happy to give you the address that you ill report to." Draco looked past the man and stared out the window watching the other building from it. He ended up getting dismissed from the room and stopped at the desk of a blonde. She took a moment before she pulled a piece of parchment from her desk and scribbled down something and handed it back to him. The whole time he stayed as quiet as the woman. Once he got the paper he limped off towards the exit.
He left the building and found that his first meeting was in two days. What was wrong with these people. Letting those that are hurt and innocent go off to die for them. But then again it was just like having Voldemort back. He didn't care, the only difference was, was he would have killed you if you complained. Draco shoved the parchment into his pocket and started off down the street, trying to ignore the crowd of muggles. He didn't want to think of an attack happening. He kept looking around and turned into a café. Tea was needed, he needed to clear his own head and relax. Hell, he could continue his letter to Hermione. He knew that she was on a constant worry and he wanted to keep her mind at ease.
He sat at a table that he was offered and looked over the menu the woman gave him. He asked the woman for a tea and went with getting a couple of scones. Draco found himself closing his eyes. How it reminded him of being in the café at home. How Hermione had been nice enough to speak with him and give him a chance. That was all he wanted. Was to be home with Hermione, with his parents, sitting in the garden. Once the waitress brought him a cup of tea and his plate of scones Draco thanked the lady and went to pulling his letter out. He had adapted to the way of paper and pen when out with muggles around. He didn't need more eyes on him, and he didn't need to let the enemy know that there was someone magical nearby. Draco fixed his tea with two sugars and started to look over his letter to see where he had left off.
My love,
I'm sorry I had to leave you once more. This time with worse in our minds than when I had left for the States last time. So far nothing large has taken place. The guys certainly do not care for me in any way. They seem to think this is a large joke to have me apart of the team and wondering around with a cane. But, then again being in the city I don't have to worry about making noise with the damned thing since you can barely hear yourself think with all these vehicles and people around. I'm sure in reality I don't bring too much attention to myself. I just keep telling myself to keep my head down and avoid bringing attention to myself. But somehow the panic attacks seem to love to come in when I have too much going on around me.
He took a sip of his tea and took a bite of his scone before he heaved a sigh. He was not too sure on what to write to her. He did not want to worry her and at the same time did not want to have to worry his mother and father. He knew that both of his parents would keep with the young woman as he had decided to take her on as his bride. A smile hit his lips at the very thought, and he pulled a pen from his pocket.
I finally met with several of the higher ups. They seem to think that I am mentally scarred and therefore I need to be seeing someone professionally. Of course, this is the best option they supposedly have for me as it keeps me on the front lines of everything. I don't know if this psychiatrist will be able to say anything to change their mind, for all I know they'll be on the same side as these men and keep me ready for war. They've also decided that this person can schedule me for as many visits as they see fit. Which I'm nearly prepared to go in for the full damned week. Knowing my past with the war of Voldemort I have a feeling there is a lot this person will want to dig into.
He set the pen down and took another drink from his cup as his other hand dug into his shirt pocket. He pulled out the gray piece of news paper and unfolded it. He looked down at the paper and smiled. After his proposal his parents had figured it was best for them to go out for dinner. And of course, Draco didn't refuse, he had needed something to get his mind from the coming morning. His parents had taken them out into London, and they had found themselves in the center of a dining room with waiters making sure never to be too far from them. He had nearly kept his hand wrapped around Hermione's the entire time. His smile had never faltered as he spent his time with his new fiancé and his parents.
As they were leaving the restaurant, his parents right behind him they found themselves surrounded by cameras. Both him and Hermione had frozen and looked confused for a moment. But he should have known one of the women in there would have tipped someone off over the ring that had graced Hermione's left hand. Draco's arm stayed around her as they heard the clicks and heard the questions of marriage happening between the two of them.
Draco's eyes watched the large smile on Hermione's face and saw the blush over her cheeks even if it was black and white. His eyes moved over towards his parents, his mother's arm was wrapped through his father's and they both just smiled watching the two of them. The headline above read Malfoy Heir and Golden Granger Engaged. He had found himself folding the paper back up. He looked up to see his waitress coming back over towards him. "Just another cup please." He replied as she gave him a bright smile. Draco looked back down towards his letter. He wasn't sure if she had gotten the time to speak to either of her friends more on a proper level, but he hoped that they would take it a little lighter than when she had passed Harry in Diagon Alley.
But hope was small when it came down to Harry and or Ron understanding. He was sure the youngest Weasley was thrilled for Hermione and would be screeching with joy and the idea of wedding plans. He just hoped that Hermione would take the step to understand that his mother may be more towards the idea of planning it for her. He just also hoped that his mother would understand it was Hermione's wedding. Taking another swallow of tea, he went towards his letter.
Either way did you manage to get ahold of Harry while you had a chance. I had not heard if he was back over this side yet or not. I hope that once you do manage to get ahold of both of these men that they understand that you have found someone that has been more than happy to give you everything for being such a forgiving and sweet person. I wanted to talk to you with them, and at the same time was worried they may take it even harder with me present. But I thought you might need someone there to give you strength depending on their anger or shock. Just know that any way it goes I love you and keep loving you with every beat of my heart.
His gray eyes swept the café once more and tried to focus on his words towards Hermione. He found that he was just getting a little too lost in his own thoughts that he didn't want to bring to the surface. He started to drink more tea and ran a hand over his face as he set his pen back down on the table and sighed. What was he thinking being out and about? He'd just have to suck it up. He was becoming a joke with all of this between all the men. He let out a heavy sigh and started to write once more. He'd finish his letter to her and then head back to the apartment that he shared.
He would write his mother and father once he was back at the apartment. It would be time to start some kind of dinner by the time he got back anyway, and it helped him relax he could focus on something different for once. Draco continued to scrawl across the page he was working on before wishing Hermione nothing but love and that he promised to be back to her soon enough. Folding the letter he tucked it and the pen away in his pocket before he fished out some muggle cash and set it on the table before pushing his seat back and heading out the door into the busy street once more.