Chapter 3 – With a bit of Luck

It had been a week since Hermione had come to the hospital, and I couldn't stop thinking about her. I wanted to help, to make sure she was okay. I'd even snuck a peak at the appointment book to make sure she was coming back to see the mental health healer. The closer it got to her appointment the more I tried to think of excuses to be in the atrium for a while. Just to make sure she looked better.

Luck was apparently on my side for the first time in my life. Just as I entered the hallway Healer Fletcher stopped me to ask my opinion on his patient. That first day had gone so well Healer Rodriguez had kept us seeing different patients permanently. As he was babbling on I looked up and saw Granger in the Atrium. She looked amazing. Her hair was tamed, and she looked full with life again. She turned and saw me, after a second she gave a small wave. I nodded to her and turned back to Fletcher. He glanced down the hallway and saw her turn away, tucking her hair behind her ear as she was told to go sit down and wait for her healer.

"Go talk to her." Fletcher nudged.

I frowned, "Excuse me?"

Fletcher rolled his eyes, "You've been distracted all morning. Now she's here and you can't stop peeking into the Atrium to look at her."

I stood up taller and starred down at Fletcher, "I'll have you know that she is my patient and I simply wish to know if the potions I prescribed are working."

"Then go ask her. I'll ask Healer Rodriguez about my patient." I frowned at Fletcher, he sighed, "If what you want to know is purely professional then I don't see why you can't go chat with her for a second."

I thought about it. She probably hated the sight of me, but I had been distracted all morning and I had my other patients to think about. "You're right. I will simply go ask her if she's feeling any better." I ignored the strange twisting feeling in my stomach telling me I didn't deserve to be near her, and set out for the atrium. I spotted her instantly across the room and headed for the seat beside her. I nearly laughed out loud when I realized she was reading. Who brings a book to a hospital? "Good afternoon miss Granger."

She jumped and looked up at me, "Geez Malfoy you scared me."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I just wanted to come check on you."

She looked incredulous again, "Check on me?"

"Well you are my patient," I pointed out nervously, "you look like you're doing better." I looked her over now that I was closer, the bags under her eyes were still there but at least not as noticeable. The bruised color gone, thank god.

She nodded, "Yeah, it's amazing how a few good night's sleep can change your whole perspective."

I nodded, remembering my own nightmares. Not that they had completely gone away, but since I started studying as a healer they had become less and less frequent. I saw a Healer walking over reading a chart, "Granger?" She called, looking around the room for her.

Hermione began gathering her things, "Well, thanks for checking up on me. See you around Draco." She got up and walked off with the healer. I sat in shock, she'd never called me Draco before. After a few seconds I got up and went back to the walk in clinic. Fletcher grinned at me with a knowing smile. I glared at him.