Disclaimer: I do not own the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This story is purely fictional. Names, places, events, etc. are either products of the author's imagination or are used in a fictional manner.
Present time (August 2006) - St. Mungo's Hospital
On a seemingly normal day, the emergency room of St. Mungo's was not bustling with patients. Only a few here and there with concerns such as a simple stomachache due to suspected food poisoning or a fever accompanied by common colds running for a few days now.
It was perfectly normal and it's not like the nurses and doctors assigned to the E.R were bothered. It could have been worse, or it could get worse, but they try their best to be prepared for whatever may happen.
"Doctor Granger," a nurse called over a brunette young woman in a long white coat, her stethoscope around her neck. "we need a few stitches on the patient in bed number 3. He's got quite a deep cut on his forehead. Doctor Parker told me to have you do the case." she added, referring to a senior resident.
Hermione Granger nodded at the nurse and let her explain what happened to the patient needing minor stitches. "His mum said he was getting something under the table when he hit the edge quite hardly."
"Has it been disinfected prior to their arrival? Pressure applied?" The nurse nodded at her questions before leading her to the hospital bed where a ten-year old boy sat with his mother pressing a currently soaked gauze against his gash.
"Hi, Brandon! This is Doctor Granger and she'll be taking a look at your forehead." Hermione smiled and instructed the nurse to bring her the cart carrying the supplies needed for minor injuries that need stitching.
"Hi, Brandon! I'll make this really fast and less painful as possible, alright?" She put on her gloves white chatting up the child. "Can you tell me what happened?"
His mother removed the gauze and allowed the young doctor to do her job. "I was getting something from under the table and I hit my head hard when I was coming up. It was an accident! I swear!" Hermione injected a small amount of mild anesthesia to numb the area where the gash is. After that she started cleaning the area before suturing.
"I'm going to close it now. Don't worry it won't hurt you." She assured the child before swiftly finishing up the basic procedure. "You're not allowed to touch that area, okay? It's going to heal on its own but you need to clean it everyday. I'm going to give you a few painkillers, only for you to take when the pain is unbearable, okay?" Hermione looked at the boy's mother, telling her instructions on how to care for the wound.
Hermione made a few more rounds on patients in the emergency room before heading to the residents' room. She started her medical internship last June and she was currently in her emergency room rotation. It had been rough for her, medical school, that is. Not because she was unable to catch up, on the contrary she graduated top of her class. No, it was hard for her due to a different reason.
"What now?!" She grumbled when her pager went off. With a sigh, Hermione fixed her hair back in a low ponytail before heading out. She was also silently cursing the pair of heels she currently donned.
"We have a VIP patient coming in." Doctor Parker informed her the moment she joined her senior. They were not the only doctors in the emergency room, however Doctor Parker is the resident in-charge, and she's the favored E.R intern, so it was no surprise that he chose her to assist to the VIP patient.
Hermione stood up straight, ready to impress and attend to the patient in need. A sleek black car stopped in front of the emergency room doors where she and her senior stood waiting. The chauffeur stepped out first to open the door and out came a familiar face Hermione never thought she'd see again after so many years.
"Mister Malfoy! Such an honor." Doctor Parker was the first to approach the blonde man in front of her.
8 years apart and he seemed to become the man everyone envisioned him to be. A man everyone but her envisioned him to be.
Staring was rude, she knew, however, she was still unnoticed and it was the first time she saw him up close. She couldn't deny herself the opportunity to stare at the man in front of her, radiating power and seriousness. His hair was cropped short, she remembered a distant memory of her liking that particular hairstyle on him. He was in an undoubtedly expensive midnight blue two-piece suit, his tie matching the color scheme, only patterned with thin stripes.
"Yes, well, this is an emergency and I would request you to keep this private matter from the press." The blonde man ducked back inside the car and retrieved a fussing baby boy, making Hermione gasp in shock.
What?
"Of course, Mister Malfoy. If you would follow us inside. We'll lead you to a private room. Doctor Tonks is on her way there." Doctor Parker shot Hermione a look and she hurried to the private room prepared for the VIP guest.
Her mind was reeling! It had been 8 years and of course, contrary to popular belief, or assumption, whatever you want to call it, she kept her eyes in the life of the most sought after bachelor in London. She knew that he had not been married, however, he was linked to various people within his social circle. Ranging from models and actresses, to daughters of business partners, even to daughters of politicians! Draco Malfoy was a magnet to the ladies and he enjoyed the attention. That much she knew.
So that doesn't explain the baby in his arms who looked like an exact replica of him. Blonde hair and all. The resemblance was uncanny and anyone would immediately know who's child he is.
"Hermione!" Doctor Andromeda Tonks exclaimed in shock when she entered the private room. "I didn't know you were on duty today, or started in the emergency room for that matter."
Hermione greeted the older woman politely. She is after all a part of her life for as long as she could remember. "I didn't expect to see you here either, Doctor Tonks. It's nice seeing you."
There was silence, both ladies clearly unable to decipher how to proceed and act. Being the older one, Andromeda cleared her throat and decided to ask, "Who is this VIP patient? I am quite sure that it's a child since I wouldn't be called here if it wasn't."
Before Hermione could answer, the door opened and in came two blondes, one particularly fussy and unsettled, and another quite stoic but obviously tired. Andromeda let out a gasp and immediately tended towards the two Malfoys. Doctor Parker informed her of what happened before stepping out, letting the head of Pediatrics handle the case and leaving the best first year resident to assist her.
"I swear I don't know what's wrong with him, Aunt 'Dromeda. I came straight home as soon as my plane from Australia landed when mother called to tell me Scorp hasn't settled down since last night." There was a hint of distress in his voice, something Hermione had not heard in the last 8 years.
Of course he's in the family business. That didn't come off as a shock to her, especially when she never saw his face in Oxford. Not even his shadow. Although, she knew which university he attended.
She hadn't made her presence known. She stood quietly as she watched the older physician do a check up on the baby who couldn't have been more than 6 months old. It was only when she was addressed that she remembered the reason she was in the room in the first place.
"Doctor Granger, kindly head up to the pharmacy and give this prescription to them. Also tell them I need a teething ring as well." Andromeda handed the brunette doctor a white paper with the medicine request written across it. "It's to help manage the fever. Good thing you brought him here immediately, Draco. Apparently your son is teething and has an onset of the flu."
Hermione lowered her head and excused herself from the room, thankful to finally be out. She did not miss the shocked look on Draco's face as he let his eyes trained on her until she got out. She let out a sigh and straightened her back before walking down the pharmacy to process the task given to her.
"You cannot be serious." Draco said albeit breathlessly. "She's here?"
Andromeda pursued her lips and nodded, focusing on entertaining her grandchild. "She's here."
"Since when? Has she said anything about... me?" There was hesitation in his voice. Those who do not know him well will never think that the young Malfoy would not have it in him to be hesitant and doubtful. He radiates power and he gets the job done. Always so sure of himself, never the one to second guess.
"Draco, darling, you promised your father." Andromeda reached out to hold her nephew's hand. "No one will hold it against you."
"I kept that promise, Aunt 'Dromeda." Draco reminded. "It's not like I expected to see her here of all places."
"Did you really not, Draco?" When he didn't reply, she knew she got him. "No one will know, Draco. Trust me."
Draco looked over at his son, tracing the outline of his face with a finger. "He looks just like me when I was baby that it surprises me everyday."
"How are you holding up?" Draco knew what Andromeda meant.
"It wasn't easy, but it was expected. His mother did not leave, she died. We all knew it was coming." Before he could further elaborate, Hermiome walked in with a brown bag in one hand and a teething ring in another.
Draco couldn't help but admire the beautiful woman in front of him. She looked everything like the teenager he met years ago, age only defined her beauty more. Her hair was cascading down her back in soft curls, held back by a clip at the base of her neck. Her lips were as pink as ever and he wondered what it would feel to kiss it again. Her eyes still held determination and above all, admiration and compassion, something he loved about her. To top it all off, she looked great in her white coat.
"I'm going to make my rounds to my other patients. I'll leave Scorpius in your care, Hermione. I'll be speaking to Eugene to transfer you to the VIP ward so I can monitor the child's condition for the next few days." Andromeda announced. After speaking to Doctor Parker, she finally took her leave, leaving the two adults all alone.
"Hey." Draco watched as Hermione's eyes looked everywhere but refused to meet his eyes.
"May I hold him?" She asked when Scorpius became restless again. He nodded and watched in complete awe as Hermione moved to remove her stethoscope from around her neck.
She tied her hair in a bun before carefully picking up the restless child. She held the teething ring to his mouth.
"It's okay, darling. I know it hurts. It's okay." She whispered softly as she swayed to pacify the child. "Shhh... it's okay. I'm here."
He didn't know how long he stood there, watching as Hermione swayed and softly whispered to his son.
Hermione held Scorpius until they were moved to the VIP ward, and even until then. His son grew quiet, obviously curious as to who was the woman carrying him. There was a level of comfort Hermione brought that finally sent his son to a deep slumber.
"Can we talk?" He bravely asked as soon as Hermione laid the child in the middle of the bed.
Hermione bit her lip, a sign that she was contemplating an answer. "I still have an hour before my shift ends."
"I can wait."
Draco sighed in relief when she nodded.
"I'll see you later, then."
A/N: Hi everyone! This is another Dramione story, obviously, and I decided to have this one set in an alternate universe where magic does not exist. I will try my best to do research to have this as close to reality as much as possible. Please leave favorite and/or follow to be notified whenever I post a new chapter. Leave a review and let's talk.
All the love,
Sam xo