A/N: Thank you for the great response and about the riots. Everything has calmed down now and fortunately nobody in my family was affected. I'm hoping to write more in the next few days as stupid me fell over and my foots all bruised/swollen so staying in! I'm sory if my grammer or spelling is a bit dodgy, It's hard to word some things and also I don't notice some mistakes because I'm used to chapter.

The ending to this chapter I think is one of my favourites, lets see what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related, just the plot.

Trouble in the Sweet Shop

Chapter 7

The following day Hermione had arrived early, yes she disliked Malfoy but these last few weeks had been fun in a way, she had found a way to get past his annoying exterior and found it amusing when he tried to offend her. She swore she had seen him smile sometimes. Like actually smiling and not smirking. She met up with another Healer, who had been working on the antidote and proceeded into Malfoy's room, where he was awake and alert, anxious for his antidote.

"Mr Malfoy, you understand that you will have to come back for a check up in a few weeks?" He nodded and Hermione tilted his head back and poured the potion down his throat, they waited and slowly he was able to move his fingers and then his arms then finally he was able to slowly move his body. Hermione smiled and emitted a small laugh, he was ordered to lie there and move very slowly, as he hadn't moved for a long time, he would be a little shaky on his feet or a while. Hermione helped sit him up and she handed him a pepper-up potion to help him brighten up. He was shaking as he lifted his hand and held the phial and raised it to his mouth, chugging it back. The healer was walking around and checking each part of his body, making sure nowhere was still paralysed. After 10 minutes he felt strong enough to stand.

Hermione helped him onto his feet and he took a few steps before sitting back down. It was too much for him to apparate back yet so he stayed at St. Mungos and got used to walking around. After an hour he felt strong enough to floo back.

"So we have scheduled you in for 2 weeks from today at 10 o'clock." Hermione gave him a piece of parchment with his appointment written on it and walked him to the fireplace in reception.

"You gonna be OK getting back?" Was she worried about him? He nodded and slowly walked into the fireplace, he turned and looked at her "Granger"

"Yeah?"

Maybe he could just ask her for a drink, to say thanks. He had had a great time these last few weeks, regardless of being paralysed. Hermione looked optimistic, maybe she should ask him out, just as friends of course, but he was a death eater, but then again she had gotten closer to him lately.

"erm...Mayb...Thanks, for everything" She smiled and he smiled back. "We've never really got on but I don't know any of my friends that would have done this for me"

"Just doing my job Malfoy"

"Even so, you didn't have to. You didn't have to treat me so kindly, you could have been harsh."

"You're Welcome" He picked up the floo powder.

"See you soon,"

"What?"

"My next appointment? I'm assuming you're still my healer?"

"Oh yeah sorry, see you soon Draco"

He threw the floo powder into the fire, saying "Malfoy Manor" and vanished with the flame. Hermione's heart sank a little, it was weird but she kind of missed him. He was her first patient and her safety blanket in this job, she had gotten closer since he was there and made her forget her problems. I guess she had his next appointment to look forward to.

Hermione arrived back home and helped Mrs Weasley with the dinner, it was strange, this room was once full of people and now dinner times consisted of herself, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Percy and sometimes Fred and George. Bill and Fleur had recently been coming around more, which was great for Hermione as she finally had another girl to talk to.

"Ow eez work Ermione?" Fleur still had a very strong accent but Hermione was used to it by now.

"Fine, a little busy but it's good, how's married life?"

"Eet eez wonderful, you and Ron will love eet." Hermione nodded, he had completely forgotten about Ron, she had been so caught up with work and Malfoy and Ron hadn't wrote since. Was she moving on? She never thought this day would come.

Two weeks passed by and Hermione saw patients come and go, nobody ever stuck out. A part of her was really looking forward to Malfoy's appointment but she would never tell anyone about this. She had wondered how he was doing, standing in Reception waiting for him to arrive. When he popped out of the fireplace, he looked like a completely different man. His hair was no longer a mess like it was when he left, he was wearing black jeans, shoes and a white shirt, he wore robes over the top and he looked healthy, good and Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Where it came from she didn't know but she kind of liked feeling this way, it was different from when she had been with Ron, it was exciting and dare she say it, magical.

He smiled at her but quickly looked away, he had secretly been looking forward to this appointment, it was comfortable being in her presence, she walked towards the door and pulled it open so Malfoy could walk through. He then followed her into a room where he sat down and Hermione began her routine check up.

"How are you?"

"Fine"

"Any side effects or pain?"

"None at all" She had not yet looked him in the eye, she wanted to keep her mind on the task and thoroughly check him out, it was more than her job was worth if she messed this up. She also had butterflies in her stomach which she had never properly felt before.

"All clear. I guess you don't have to come back for another check up unless you start to feel anything abnormal" He nodded and Hermione started to fill out forms she had brought in with her, as she handed it to him, their fingers touched and lingered for just a second too long. Hermione looked up to meet his eyes and quickly moved her hand back and he signed the parchment. Handing it back and smiling.

"That's great." 10 minutes later they walked to the fireplace, everything was fine and Draco was discharged. Before departing he looked at her, it was now or never, he knew it was a long shot but he had to go with his instinct, this girl had spent everyday watching over him and was there every step of the way during his recovery. He had thought about this moment for the past two weeks, what he would say how she could react.

"Hermione" It was the first time he had said her name and it sounded great, he had to find the courage."Would you like to go for a drink sometime, as a way to say thank you"

She was shocked but happily agreed, they agreed to meet after Hermione finished work and sure enough when Hermione clocked off and changed back into normal clothes, Draco was waiting for her in the reception. They apparated to a small pub in a small wizarding town not far from St. Mungos. They grabbed a seat and ordered two cold butterbeers.

"So?"

"So?"

"OK this is weird, why are we so awkward around each other? We've spent so much time together"

"I don't know, maybe it's because you always gave me so much trouble" Draco laughed at this and they immediately fell into a comfortable routine and spent the whole night laughing.

At the end of the night, Draco apparated just up the road from the Weasley's, he believed in taking a lady home.

"I've got to say, this was nice in a strange way. I'm really surprised in you Draco" He smiled and began to walk with her closer to the house.

"I spent weeks watching you around that hospital and you're different. I never thought we would get on so well and I need a fresh start. I need to change my ways because lets face it, they haven't got me anywhere so far. I'd always been told that I was superior to muggleborns but you've shown me so much more and I know that I'm giving away too much and being too open but it feels right and as much as it kills me to say. I missed seeing you everyday." Hermione hugged him, it wasn't a long hug but it was nice. Draco couldn't remember the last time he had hugged someone, he was never showered with love as a child.

"Would it be rude of me to kiss you?" Hermione was shocked at his words, nobody had ever been gentleman enough to ask her that, any boy that did like her always just jumped in and she had to face pushing them away.

"You're asking?"

"Yeah, I don't know how you'd feel about it."

"I'd like it very much" she smiled and Draco lent forward, capturing her lips in a soft kiss. Looking into his eyes she whispered "Thank you" and closed her eyes, their heads touching.

"Why are you thanking me?" Draco was whispering now, he wasn't sure why.

"For a great night, I'm really happy. Goodnight Draco" She began to walk towards the Weasley's on her own, they had already planned this as it wouldn't go down too well if they saw Hermione with another man, let alone Draco Malfoy.

"Goodnight Hermione"

A/N: Follow me on twitter if you like. I'm basically ranting HP stuff all day, find it on my profile.

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