Edge of Discomfort

Helium

-Rudy Francisco

There was a moment in my life

When I couldn't tell the difference

Between a window and a mirror

I could look into both

And see everything

But myself

Edge of Discomfort

His ears rang from the silence in his room. Looking to the side of his bed, Draco saw a neatly folded pile of bandages, he peeked under the covers, and found he didn't have a shirt on, just his usual scars but otherwise everything felt fine. Groaning, he lifted his right hand, it was wrapped in a brace. He took off the covers and made to get up, realizing his head wasn't hurting, it should be.

Bits and pieces of what happened came to mind. He remembered drinking, a lot, and then falling. Then he remembered why he had been drinking. He growled, upset he had lost control. Potter would surely give him a mouthful in the morning, but he didn't much care. He was still upset Potter hadn't kept him in the loop. Maybe things weren't all that different.

Draco walked over to his dresser to grab a shirt. Why didn't he have a shirt on? He looked at the time, it was about 9pm. Other than his wrist and the fuzzy memory, he felt perfectly fine, actually more hydrated and rested if he was honest.

He thought back to Flint's words, thankfully they didn't echo in his mind anymore, but they angered him. He wasn't sure why, he didn't feel like a blood traitor in the least, but then he remembered how his colleagues stood around him waiting for him to do… what? Attack Harry?

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He looked back to see Hermione, opening the door and peeking into the room. She looked at the bed expecting to find him, but it was so dark she didn't notice him by the dresser.

"Draco?" she said softly.

"I'm here." He closed the dresser and made to put on the shirt.

"Incendio." She lit the fireplace; it had gotten cold in the room. "How are you feeling?"

"Great." He grunted getting his braced hand through the arm of the shirt.

"That's good."

"Didn't think you'd still be here."

"I couldn't very well leave you. I had to make sure you awoke, plus I still had some work to do, I kept myself busy."

"Thanks."

There was silence as he made his way back to his bed and sat on its edge. Hermione stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. She kept to her mantra even though she felt awkward now. Stand on the edge of discomfort.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?"

"About why you were drunk in the middle of the day?" she tried not to accuse him of it, more like state the obvious. He didn't receive it well either way. He snapped his head to look at her.

"That's none of your business. You can go."

"I certainly will not. You could have bled out. How do I know you won't up and do it again?" she said more sternly. She remembered how she mothered Harry and Ron then. Somehow Draco managed to get pooled together with them lately.

"Don't worry I won't." he said in a monotone voice his head leaning forward into his palms. There was more silence because Hermione wasn't convinced. "Leave." His voice was more assertive, with an edge of command that she didn't like.

"You could have died. I just want to make sure you're ok." She tried to be more compassionate remembering her bedside manner. "At least let me check-"

"You really don't change do you. Still think you can just get your way if you push enough?" his voice was low but laced with anger. She wasn't sure how to react then, but suddenly regretted standing within this particular discomfort. "You can't save everyone, Granger, so just fucking leave. I don't need your sympathy!" he shouted getting on his feet to face her. "I don't need anyone's fucking sympathy."

Hermione remembered to take a breath. She didn't understand what had happened. Earlier he had called her beautiful, these last two weeks he had been perfectly fine and even friendly toward her and suddenly she stood before Draco Malfoy, her childhood bully.

Except this time, she didn't have Harry and Ron behind her in case anything happened. It didn't matter, she could defend herself, she always had, each time she faced him she had stood her ground.

"I'm not trying to give you sympathy." She said narrowing her eyes at him. "I'm trying to help you."

He laughed.

"Help. You just want to control every situation. Can't leave anything alone. Well, I'm not a werewolf or a broken puppy. In fact, do you even need a reason?" he took a step toward her, and she instinctively flinched. "Why don't you just be honest then?"

"Honest?" she whispered having severely underestimated the situation.

"Yeah, you're just like everyone else. It's all an act isn't it? You're all just waiting for the mask to slip right back on? Just waiting for Death Eater Draco to reveal his true plans." He took another step toward her. She didn't back down. She had a wand, and he didn't. Suddenly she was angry. She didn't do anything to deserve being treated this way.

"I don't know what is going on with you. Whatever demons your fighting leave me out of them. I'm not the same person you used to tease, Malfoy, and if you can't wrap your head around that, say whatever helps you sleep at night. You think you're the only one who's fighting there past?" she looked him up and down, he seemed healthy enough. If he wanted to drink himself into a coma after she left she wouldn't hold herself responsible. "Whatever is going on with you is not my fault, in case you forgot, we're supposed to be partners." She turned and left not wanting to stay a moment longer.

Taffy had gotten to the office early enough to grab some coffee and breakfast from the cafeteria. She made her way to the interview room that needed to be set up. They had scheduled 4 interviews back-to-back before they had to head out to shell cottage to meet with Bill and Fleur to see their two youngest children.

As she set up she kept thinking about what Miss Granger had told her of magical creatures. It all made sense and there was more to learn on the subject. Haze's behavior on Sunday was very different from what she was used to. A part of her didn't want to step foot into the same room with him again. The first thought that came to mind was that she was a Ravenclaw, and she wanted to learn more about him, but she remembered what Haze had said in the atrium. 'I wouldn't want people to assume things about me just because of where I come from.'

She had never thought about it that way but now she couldn't decide if it was because she was a Ravenclaw or she was really just curious. Almost every part of her wanted to stay away from him, but her mind zoned in on the puzzle, the mystery. 'Sometimes mysteries are frightening.' She had said that to him, and it was truer now than it was before.

She was surprised when she had finished setting up that Miss Granger, nor Mr. Malfoy, had arrived yet. She looked up at the clock, the first ministry employee would be arriving in about 20 minutes, and they still had to review.

She decided to go grab the Greek Mythology book from her desk to read while she waited. When she entered the bullpen she saw that Haze was leaning on the wall of Mr. Malfoys cubicle looking into his desk. She stopped just passed the archway in front of the conference rooms.

Last time Taffy was in the same space as Haze was when they floo'd in from Hogsmeade Sunday night. After that she had hoped to only see him in passing. She looked around and it was business as usual, she could go back to the interview room and just wait there, which is exactly what she turned around to do until…

"Miss Winterof, good morning." Mr. Potter greeted her while exiting his office. From the corner of her eye, she saw Haze turn up his head toward her. She grimaced and turned to Mr. Potter.

"Good morning, sir. How are you?" she asked as he walked toward her.

"I'm doing well thanks; I hear your trip to Hogwarts went well." Taffy thanked her lucky stars for small talk. Haze took the opportunity to exit the bullpen toward the lifts. He probably intended to make good on his promise and leave her alone.

"Oh yes, the interviews and presentation went smoothly. It's different when you visit and you're not a student." She was happy to have gotten to know Mr. Potter a bit better then.

"Tell me about it, these days I'd give anything to play just one more quidditch game with classmates."

"Oh my god yes!" she said enthusiastically. They laughed. "I played keeper for Ravenclaw for my last 2 years, I really miss it."

"Did you now? I didn't know that." He said crossing his arms as they chatted for another moment, then she noticed Miss Granger walking toward them.

"Good morning Harry. Miss Winterof, my apologies for my tardiness, is the room ready?" she said sounding a bit exasperated. Taffy had never known Miss Granger to be late, ever.

"Yes, everything's set." Taffy checked her watch, 10 minutes until the first interview was scheduled.

"Hey, have either of you seen Malfoy yet?" Mr. Potter asked. Miss Granger seemed to stiffen in place.

"I haven't since Sunday." Taffy offered. Mr. Potter looked at Miss Granger expectantly, who seemed to hesitate.

"Not today. We should get inside; our first appointment starts soon." Miss Granger excused herself very quickly walking passed them toward the interview room. Taffy followed behind excusing herself, but not before she noticed Mr. Potter's skeptical expression. Taffy knew she was missing a puzzle piece but thought nothing of it as they quickly got to work.

The first interview was for a man named Pilkin Webber, who worked for the portkey office. He was infected 3 years ago during a testing phase of a traveling project and found himself in the middle of a wooded area without a wand. He was the newest werewolf who was involved in the study.

The interview went well and almost like an exchange, as he had a lot of questions about what their goals were. Taffy realized then the reality of what it was they were trying to do. She watched Miss Granger talk with passion about what she hope to accomplish and how far reaching this study could go. Taffy was proud to be here, every step of the way, she was confident that even if they couldn't cure the infection, they would find some way to help this community. Mr. Webber seemed to leave with a bit more hope than when he walked in.

The next 2 interviews went about the same, but the third was for a man named Gregory Elvin who worked in the Obliviator Headquarters. He asked many questions before they even began and was very condescending. He even asked Miss Granger to list out her credential and why she considered herself any kind of expert on the subject. It was all very alarming to watch.

A part of Taffy wanted to lash out at him and defend her, but she watched captivated as Miss Granger defended her work fiercely and without hesitation. Taffy understood better now, it was so obvious that a younger version of Hermione Granger had been integral in defeating Voldemort. Taffy shuttered at the thought that if Miss Granger were evil, she'd have been one hell of a Dark Lady. In the end, Mr. Elvin answered the questions and agreed to continue his participation in the study.

"I think that went well." Miss Granger said reviewing the rolls of parchment and labeling them. "We are running a bit behind; I don't think we have time to take a lunch break actually." She said looking at the clock. "I do believe Fleur mentioned they'd prepare some food if that's alright with you?"

"Certainly, I just need to get my things. I've been reading that book on Greek Mythology you recommended."

"Oh, anything noteworthy?"

"Not yet, but I'm hopeful. After, I was thinking of reading up on the Vikings." Taffy said enthusiastically. She had a renewed sense of excitement about this project.

"That sounds great. Alright, let's head out."

"Was Mr. Malfoy supposed to join us?" Taffy asked as they left the room. Miss Granger took a moment to answer, she turned to look at her.

"I don't think so. He wasn't feeling well when I saw him yesterday. I think it will just be the two of us for a bit." She said closing the door behind them.

*The limits of friendship*

In the next episode, Draco takes a trip to the manor. Then he seeks out an old friend and meets a new acquaintance who seems a bit too familiar.