Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter. This was written for the first regular Froday challenge for August 2022 which was vegetarian. This was also written for the Awareness Challenge 2022, but what I wanted to bring attention to with this fic was Alpha-gal syndrome which is a meat allergy and this is what my brain came up with.

Without Sparkles

There she sat, stirring her drink with a straw, frowning.

Life seemed that way after the war, with Hermione finding things didn't get better as she'd expected—not her relationship with Ron, to say the least, yet also the recent discovery of something she'd not thought possible at all, not given the fact she was a witch and not a Muggle. " Although in retrospect, I wonder if this idea that wizards and witches not being able to come down with Muggle maladies is as much of a myth as Purebloods having superior magic to us Muggleborn. "

The frown left, or more of the appearance of a familiar redhead, brightened her day, pushing aside the issue she'd discovered recently. Hermione sat up straight, wanting to greet her boyfriend enthusiastically, mainly since she wished things between her and Ron to work out. "Hey. What took you so long?"

"Are you going to nag me for being late?" Ron asked.

And with that, the frown returned. Hermione moved her hand from stirring her drink to where she could lightly rest her chin. "I wasn't planning on nagging you, just wondering what took you so long?"

Ron shrugged his shoulders, motioning for the waiter to come over. "I'm looking forward to trying out the food here. Hope they have a nice pot roast or something like that."

"Could you possibly not?" Hermione asked, frowning. Already her stomach was churning, as it had off and on.

"Not what?"

"Order anything with meat," Hermione said, her voice lowered.

"Why?" Ron said, looking at her in a somewhat amusing manner.

"Because," Hermione said. "It will make me feel nauseous smelling it."

Ron frowned, taking a menu from the waiter. "Why? Are you pregnant?" And then he lowered the menu. "Wait a second. How could you be pregnant? Have you been seeing another man?"

Hermione lowered her hand, which resulted in a slight sound due to the force she used. And she glowered at him. "I am not pregnant. And I haven't been cheating on you. I've just been turned off meat, is all."

"You've been turned off meat," Ron looked at her skeptically before turning to the waiter and ordering precisely what Hermione had asked him not to. "This burger thing. I think I'll try it."

"Really? You ordered something with meat after I asked you not to?" Hermione said, her nose wrinkling.

"I don't understand how what I eat is any of your concern," Ron said. "If you want to go on a healthy kick, that's you, Hermione, though you of all people going on one is hilarious."

"I'm not on a health kick," Hermione said, frustrated that Ron was—well, being Ron. "I've had good reason to go off meat, thank you very much."

"And that would be?"

"I'm allergic," Hermione said, still not thrilled at being diagnosed with Alpha-gal syndrome of all things. She'd hoped for something else, something that could quickly be fixed, rather than something she would need to suffer through and change her life for.

"You're allergic to meat?" Ron laughed. "Nobody is allergic to meat, Hermione."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Of course I am. You've gone vegetarian simply because you believe that you're allergic to meat. That's hilarious."

"It's not a matter of believing that I am allergic, Ron," Hermione said, letting out a slight hum. "No. It's a matter of me actually being allergic, as in officially diagnosed as being that."

"Sure. And what healer diagnosed you with this?" Ron asked.

"I ended up going to a Muggle doctor because," Hermione started to say.

"A Muggle doctor? You're a witch."

"Yes. Well, it's a Muggle," Hermione tried again.

"Diagnoses. I know. Which means for us witches and wizards, it is a load of bunk,"

"So you think that's good reason to ignore the fact I have an actual allergy that could be life-threatening?"

"Hermione, you do not have a life-threatening allergy." Ron was-

"I don't think this is going to work out," Hermione said.

"What?"

"I said, I don't think this is going to work out," Hermione repeated. "As in our relationship."

"Come on. Be serious, Hermione. Dumping me for this delusion of yours?" Ron asked.

"Delusion?" Hermione stood up. "It's not a delusion. And, I'll see you later, Ron."

"Hold on. I thought you were paying for lunch."

"Obviously not," Hermione said.

"That could be," Ron started to say as Hermione headed toward the waiter to pay for her half-finished drink.

She turned her head to glare at him, not caring as Ron looked at her wide eyes. As far as she was concerned, he could figure a way out of his situation on his own, but she wasn't sticking around for his burger to arrive, the smell of which would turn her stomach. And once paid, she took off, heading to a Wizard bar, hoping not to see anyone who knew her, although the truth was by now, everyone knew who she was.

And she sat there, looking ahead

And then-

"Can I buy you a drink?"

Hermione looked at the person, wanting to chew them out for flirting with her, only, "Malfoy?"

"Yes. That would be me," Draco said rather cooly.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Buying a drink for someone who looks rather down right now."

"You don't like me," Hermione said. "Which is an understatement."

And to also buy you a drink as a way of an apology," Draco said, sitting down and motioning for the barkeep to bring her another drink.

She was far from thrilled at having his company yet tried to ignore him.

"So, not with Weasel," Draco started.

"We broke up," Hermione sighed.

"Okay. Not what I was trying to ask," Draco said. "I was trying to note that you aren't with Weasel or Potter. But seriously? You broke up with Weasel?"

"How come you assume it was me who broke up with him and not the other way around?"

"Because he's too stupid, but also the one most likely to have done something worth breaking up over," Draco said. He frowned. "Have you eaten? It is, after all, lunchtime, and you're already drinking."

"Thank you for your concern," Hermione said, hoping it sounded somewhat sarcastic. "And no, I haven't. Kind of broke up with Ron before I could eat."

"Ah. Then let me order you something. As a form of condolences?" Draco said. "And yes, I'm trying to learn to be more civil to," he paused, then said, "Normal magical folk."

"Obviously," Hermione said. "No."

"I'm not taking no for an answer as that would be the impolite thing to do."

"That," Hermione didn't want to argue with him about that not making sense, particularly given that she wasn't sure what logic Draco was operating under. She didn't know him beyond his Pureblood is holier than everyone else, which had been dropped at least in that moment. "Really?"

"Really?"

"No meat. Even for you. Please."

Draco turned his head. "No meat?"

"I just," Hermione frowned, unsure of how to put it.

"What is with the no meat?"

"I just can't stomach the smell."

"Please tell me Weasel didn't get you pregnant and refused to be the father or even asked you to get rid of it?"

"No? What is it with you and Ron thinking that is the reason?"

"Wait? Did you and Ron break up over you going vegetarian then?" Draco asked.

"You could say that," Hermione leaned into her arm. "I really shouldn't be having this conversation with you."

"I can see why this conversation would be uncomfortable for you," he said. "Although, if you going vegetarian is for similar issues as you championing House Elf rights…."

"It's not," Hermione said. "But this coming from someone who abused their family House Elf, Draco?" She'd turned and looked him in the face and saw the look on his face—he wasn't pleased with what she'd said. "What?"

"My father abused Dobby. My mother treated Dobby as any Black would."

"And you?"

Draco turned. "Where is he?"

"Dobby? Dobby's dead," Hermione said. "Not that I'd expect you to care."

"Except I do. You didn't grow up in a Pureblood house, so you wouldn't understand."

Hermione stared, watching him look away. She took a deep breath, wondering if she should, and then, "If you ask Harry politely, he might let you know where Dobby's grave is so you can visit."

Draco turned his head, but the look on his face—she couldn't help but think he looked grateful at what she said. "He has a grave."

"Dobby was a free elf, so Harry insisted on burying him without magic," Hermione said.

"That," Draco let out a laugh. "I guess I need to find a way to thank him, though knowing how we get along, a letter might be best."

"Face to face might be best, as a letter can be destroyed without even being opened," Hermione said.

"Touche," Draco muttered.

And then, she said, "It's an allergy."

"What is?"

"The reason I've gone off meat."

Draco frowned, then said, "You had to go to a Muggle doctor for that, right?"

Hermione found herself surprised at his words, watching him twist the cup for his own drink in his hands. "Wait? How?"

"Despite my family's prejudices, we're not as backward as you may think," Draco said. "And Uncle Arcturus would rant about how healers could learn things from Muggle doctors, that they should, but never did. Mother never corrected him, And father, I guess he respected Uncle Arcturus too much to do anything that would seem—disrespectful, even if he did disagree."

"Arcturus? As in Arcturus Black?"

"The one and the same. Uncle Arcturus, sometimes grandfather particularly," Draco's fingers tightened on his drink. "Uncle Arcturus lost his grandson."

"He lost both of his grandsons."

"Yes, but Uncle Regulus was different, and not just in how he was lost, or at least that's what I understand. The fact he died a Death Eater—I wish I'd known that had upset mother the way he did. Maybe I would have done things differently."

Hermione frowned. "Except he didn't die a Death Eater."

"Granger," Draco took a deep breath.

"He died a hero, Draco."

"What are you talking about? Everyone knows that—Aunt Bellatrix, it was the one thing mother couldn't stand dear Bella talking about: he was a coward and couldn't deal with all of it. Of torturing and killing innocents. But he didn't. "

"Except he didn't die a coward," Hermione said.

"Hermione, nobody knows what happened to him."

"Except that isn't true. I can't go into details because I don't know how much you know about what we were doing," Hermione said.

"I know about the blasted Horocruxes," Draco said. "I didn't know what they were called, but I'm smart enough to look it up. So if that's what you mean…."

"He died trying to destroy one of them," Hermione said.

"Then, do you know where his body is?" Draco said. "So my mother can bury him?"

"I don't know," Hermione said, the tone of voice changing.

"Look, I know that you owe me nothing, Granger. But this—this would be a bright spot for my mother. Uncle Regulus—he was named my godfather despite being dead so that it would be important to you."

"Except Harry would have…," Hermione faltered.

Draco swallowed, then spoke with his voice straining. "What you're trying to say is that if Harry could have, he would have seen that he too had a proper burial?"

"That," Hermione said. "I'd like to say he's trying to figure out a way to give him a proper burial, but to be honest, I think he's leaving it up to me to figure out a way we can retrieve his remains."

"That bad?"

"That bad. So please, for both your mom's and your own sake, just know that he did die a hero," Hermione said. She started to lift the drink to her mouth but then paused. "Wait. You said Arcturus Black was fine with Muggle medicine? Sirius said he'd gotten the Order of Merlin for throwing money around, that he bought someone at the Ministry, or that was the implication."

"Yes," Draco said. "And no. No, in that he didn't actually buy anyone off. It all went to research, particularly medical research." He took a deep breath. "And if he were still around, I'd like to think I would have been a different person. But I don't know for sure."

"Thank you for listening. And please don't tell anyone about my allergy."

"Just my mother, if she ever decides to invite you over to eat. Or anyone else who might be thinking of doing so," Draco said.

"Fair enough."

"And I should be the one thanking you," Draco said, leaving money to pay for the drink without having taken a drink himself. "See you later, Granger."