Chapter 8 – The Dinner

I spent the rest of the weekend reading my old healing school books. When Monday rolled around I was so happy to be at work I actually was smiling. I could hear the others whispering after I'd walked passed but I didn't care, I didn't have to be alone in my apartment today. At about noon Rodriguez called me back into her office.

"Good morning." I said cheerfully as I dropped onto the chair across from her.

She looked taken aback, "Well it looks like someone really benefited from their weekend off." She winked at me.

I frowned, "Why did you- Oh." I straightened up in my seat when I realize what she'd meant by her wink, "I don't believe that is an appropriate topic for a work place." I said while starring at the wall.

She snorted, "Oh come off it Malfoy. I didn't get any this weekend so the least you could do is tell me about your adventures."

Frowning at her crass behaviour I said, "I read my school textbooks."

Her smile fell, "Excuse me?" I starred at her and she continued, "If all you did was study, when I specifically told you to have fun, then what the hell has your so cherry that you've actually put people on edge?"

I shrugged, "I'm just happy to be back at work."

She starred at me. When I didn't crack she said, "Well then." She paused and frowned, "Malfoy are you okay?"

I started, "Excuse me?"

"Well, I've had people who are married to their jobs. But with you it's like, if you do anything that isn't the job you'll fall apart."

I sat perfectly still but inwardly cursed myself. I was clearly being too expressive of myself. I forced on a small patronizing smile, "I'm perfectly fine I assure you."

She didn't look convinced, "Look I know the war was hard on everyone but-"

I cut her off, "Look I've got a lot of patients, so if that's all?"

She frowned as I stood, "No that's not all- Malfoy get back here!" She called as I left. I quickly grabbed a patient file and ducked into their room. Rodriguez couldn't yet at me in here.

Later that day Fletcher caught me in the hallway, "Hey Malfoy, Granger is here for you." My stomach twisted again. Why wouldn't this girl just leave me alone? I stopped and turned to look in the atrium. I quickly spotted her sitting and reading a book. I went back to reading my patient file.

"What are you doing?" Fletcher asked me. Folding his arms across his chest.

"I'm reading." I emphasized by shaking my folder.

Fletcher cocked his head to the side, "Look, if you want my opinion-"

"I don't." I cut in.

"You should at least go talk to her. She clearly likes you, why else would she come all the way here during work hours? No one that's already here likes looking at your surly expression." I ignored him, "Fine," He said, throwing his hands up, "You don't want to talk to an incredibly hot and smart single woman. I get it. I hate it when that happens to me." He paused and then gave a wicked grin. I looked up from the papers, nothing that came after that look was ever good.

"Maybe I'll go talk to her. I've always been pretty good with the ladies. I can tell her about the kids I've treated today and how it'd be nice to have her beautiful self for company so I won't have to eat alone at dinner. And at the end of the night I'll convince her to come back to my place. Well fumble across my apartment to the bedroom and-"

"Shut up!" I snapped at him, suddenly jealous. I shoved my patient file at his chest and marched off to go see Granger. I didn't see him grinning from ear to ear.

I was mad that I'd let myself be manipulated when I didn't want to speak to her in the first place. Some of my anger had slipped into my tone, "What are you doing here?" I barked at her.

Startled she looked up, "Oh Malfoy, I didn't notice you come over. You know I've been waiting for quite a while. All the nurses I sent back never found you I guess."

"It's a big hospital, I must've missed them." I spat, "Why are you here?"

"I've come to invite you to dinner." She stated.

That took some of the air from my lungs, "What?"

"Ginny has invited you to dinner this Friday at their house as a thank you for checking on James."

I narrowed my eyes, "If Ginny has invited me then what in Merlin's name are you doing here?"

"She's busy with the baby so I offered to bring the invitation."

I sighed and rubbed my face. If Mother found out I had an invitation from Potter and turned down a chance to restore some pride to our name I'd never hear the end of it, "Fine. You can tell the Potter's they can see expect me at 6."

She nodded, "That works, Ginny was planning for 6:30 anyway. Also, Ron and I will be there. And you're welcome to bring a guest." Without waiting for a word from me she turned and left me standing rooted to the spot. Who the hell was I supposed to get to agree to go to this?

Friday night found me and Blaize standing outside Potter's house. I took a deep breath.

"Ready?" Blaize asked.

"Nope." I said.

Blaize turned to look at me, "Why are we doing this again?"

"Because it's a chance to repair a bit of the damage to the Malfoy name." I replied without feeling.

"And why are we actually doing this?"

I glared at Blaize and then marched up to the door and knocked. I heard screeching inside the house. After a moment Ginny opened the door looking slightly breathless, "Oh Malfoy, you brought Zabini." She said, surprised.

"Granger mentioned I was to bring a guest." I said, "I brought you a hostess gift." I gave her the roses I had bought earlier.

"Wow," She looked pleased, "Thank you so much." She smelled the flowers and motioned for Zabini and I to come inside.

"We heard some yelling when we were outside, is everything alright?" Zabini asked.

"Hm?" She asked, "Oh, well you knocked. The one portrait gets upset about noise. And there's a permanent sticking charm so we can't get rid of her." Ginny led us to the kitchen as she told a story about the portrait waking the baby. "Long story short Kreature wasn't happy that I'd tried to attack a black family ancestor."

Everyone else was already in the kitchen. Weasley was sitting at the table, presumably forced to help Granger put everything out, and Potter was at the stove getting ready to serve the food. The whole scene looked odd to me. Why didn't they just use magic? It would already be done by now. Ginny grabbed a vase and put the flowers in the center of the table.

"See Harry? Some men still buy flowers for girls." She teased.

Before Potter could respond I intervened, "Where's the baby? I thought this whole dinner was in honour of him?"

Ginny sighed, "He refused to nap today so he crashed about an hour ago. Kreature is watching him upstairs."

"Besides," Hermione added, "This is more about you."

"Yes," Ginny pipped in, "When we came back you were gone so I didn't get to thank you. The Healer at the hospital was telling me stories at the hospital about babies who've fallen." She looked stricken, "I never thought I'd say this but, I'm actually glad you were there."

Uncomfortable with the sudden atmosphere I nodded at her and sat at the table. Making sure to not be seated near Granger. For an extra measure I made sure to put Blaize beside me.

"I'm starving." Weasley stated, "Hurry up Gin! You don't want your favorite brother to die at your table do you?"

Ginny scoffed, "Like you're my favorite."

The two kept up a friendly banter during the meal, which was surprisingly delicious. I'd been nervous at first, prompting Potter to inform me that he hadn't in fact poisoned my meal. I kept sneaking glances at Granger, who seemed to be ignoring me. I couldn't understand her. One minute she was demanding to see me and the next she was aloof. When I'd been starring too long Blaize kicked me in the leg. After the meal Ginny bullied me into playing a game of exploding snap. But it wasn't long after that Blaize and I left. Outside the house I breathed in the fresh air and just stared across the square.

"That was nice." Blaize said. I nodded. "I'd even go back." He said, I nodded again. "You okay?" He asked.

I closed my eyes and groaned, "Why is everyone always bothering me about that?"

Zabini snorted, "Because you aren't okay." He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Startled I turned to look at him.

He sighed, "Malfoy, you got invited to a thank you dinner where you were allowed to invite anyone, or no one at all. But you were raised as a gentleman so you had to bring a guest. A woman invited you so you couldn't bring a female. So you asked me. Besides from the bar and any stuffy gatherings our Mother's plan, we haven't really seen each other since the war. But I'm you're closest friend. You clean up for work and for outings but the rest of the time you let yourself go. Your mother goes months without seeing you, Draco you love your mother, but you're leaving her alone in that giant house."

I rubbed my face in frustration, "What does everyone want from me? I'm a healer, I work all the time! I don't have time to meet people or be at the manor. And on my down time I want to relax and not make an effort!" I exclaimed heatedly. Blaize had his arms crossed and just raised an eyebrow at me. I sighed, "Thank you for coming tonight."

Blaize's eyebrows really shot up, "A thank you? My, you really have changed."

Hermione exited the house to find Blaize and I in the circle. "Oh, I thought you guys would have left by now."

"I was just leaving. Have a lovely night Miss Granger, Draco." And with that Blaize apparated away.

I muttered under my breath, "Figures."

Hermione walked over to me, "So, that dinner wasn't that bad right?"

I nodded once and looked over her shoulder, "I haven't experienced any poisoning symptoms yet."

She cracked a smile, "That's good." She looked at me and pulled herself up straight. Oh great, I thought, here it comes again. But she simply walked closer and laid her hand on my arm, "If you ever decide you want to talk to someone, you can come to me."

My heart started to beat faster, confused I asked, "Why?"

She frowned and removed her hand from my arm, "What do you mean?"

I scowled, "Why are you offering to talk to me? If it's just that you pity me or you feel you owe me then don't hold your breath."

She crossed her arms, "What answer would make you happy?"

I felt my heart constrict at her question. I wanted her to care about me. Unable to find an answer that didn't make me sound desperate, I ended up gaping like a fish. Opening my mouth, only to be unable to say the words and close it again.

She put her hand back on my arm, "Draco, I don't feel like I owe you anything. You gave me a prescription because you're my healer. And I don't pity you like I think you're some pathetic person. You are strong, intelligent, and very proud. But everyone needs someone to talk to. We all went through hell, but at least Harry, Ron, and I weren't forced into it by our families. Every person deserves a chance at happiness."

And with that she stepped back and apparated away. I couldn't tell if I was mad that she'd figured me out so easily, or wanted to step into her embrace and let myself be comforted. This girl was maddening, every time I saw her it felt like she was chipping at my very being, like an exposed nerve. Before Weasley could leave the house too I apparated back to my apartment.