Disclaimer: You guessed it, don't own it.
Still dedicated to Steph or she will beat me up/albeit from VERY far away! ;)
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Chapter 2: Part 1 Draco's Inheritance(s)
"Babysitter? Yeah great, thanks for wasting my time like this! Not to mention almost giving me a heart attack in the process. Here I was thinking you were serious Malfoy!" I was pacing around his office, glaring at him.
He put his elbows on the desk and put his head in his hands.
"I am completely serious!"
"Well, I'm an only child. I know nothing about babysitting. That's why there are professionals Draco! And speaking of professionals, you could use some help yourself....Cuckoo!" I made the forefinger rotating around the ear 'crazy' gesture.
"Hey I am not crazy!" There was now a look of irritation on his face.
"Granger you have no idea, I haven't slept in days. As for professionals, I have had professionals, they ate those, so called, professionals alive!" He flopped back in his chair, arms crossed over his face.
His words stopped me in my tracks. Professionals eaten alive...maybe we weren't talking about children here after all. My eyes narrowed as I looked over at him. He looked tired and sick, and at his wit's end actually. I had never seen him this...this...Well....this out of his element! He was usually so put together and in control. Maybe Malfoy had gotten himself a couple of Norwegian Ridgebacks on the black-market and was in farther than he could handle. If it had been Hagrid, I would have been sure that was the case.
"Um, Malfoy, we are talking about humans here aren't we? And just how many?" I was having visions of myself riding around on a family sized magic carpet, filled with dozens of squalling kids, my hair frizzed beyond recognition, house dress and slippers on my feet, and a bottle of "Mommy's Little Pick Me Upper" Uppers in my hand. That was not a good look. I shivered.
I was drawn out of my daydream, well nightmare, as Draco's laugh filled the room, and to be honest he did sound like the crazy person I had called him moments before. I had never heard him laugh other than those little derisive chuckles that he had so perfected. But this was as far from one of those laughs as a horse is from a Centaur. The loud out of control guffaws filled the room, and I noticed that Morio and another house elf were peering around the door watching him as if he had finally lost his mind. Maybe he had. I looked at the two house elves they both shrugged their shoulders and left.
I was unsure of what to do.
After a few minutes of standing and watching him, it became clear he was not going to be stopping his hysterical laughter anytime soon. Maybe he couldn't stop. I walked around the desk and slapped him on the back a few times.
"Malfoy get a hold of yourself man!"
"Human.....ohhh ho ho ho...Human? Haaa ha ha ha......" The laughter continued, tears streaming down his face. Yes I was a regular comedian, apparently.
I heard a noise and looked toward the door. Almost a dozen house elves were clustered there, watching the scene with big eyes. It seemed the whole household staff had turned out for the big event. It wasn't every day that they saw Draco Malfoy like this. (I hoped!)
It was obvious to anyone looking that Draco had walked off the edge of normalcy with no rope. I was going to have to take action. And it was going to feel oh so good! I was mentally rubbing my hands together, in an evil fashion. I had been dreaming of this for so long. I raised my arm back to slap him on the face, but ONLY for his own good! (Perish the thought from your mind that I WANTED to hit him! AND no that is NOT a smile on my face!)
I let swing, and gasped in shock as my hand was caught before I had the satisfaction of it connecting with his cheek. A suddenly serious Draco Malfoy was staring into my eyes from a very short distance away. I could see the tears, evidence of his laughing fit, still on his cheeks. The look in those eyes, however, was anything but amused. He was giving me the cold blank Malfoy stare. Well, welcome back Draco.
One glance from him, toward the door, and the house elves scattered. But it was no more than a glance and then he was glaring at me again. My hand was still in his grasp, so I was held in a half-stooped posture. Too bad I had been leaning over him when I was going to "help" (slap) him. It would have made my attempt at haughtiness a bit easier from a less awkward position. Oh well, I just had to do the best I could.
"Let go of me Malfoy!" I pulled at my hand, but I may as well have been trying to pull my hand out of a steel trap. Stronger than he looked, good to know.
"I said let...go...of...me!" I spoke slowly and with malice in each word.
"I must have been mistaken, Granger, but it looked as though you were just about to hit me." The words had a silky quality that caused the hair to stand up on the back of my neck. It was never a good thing when people asked you questions in that tone of voice. Think of Professor Snape and you will know just what I mean. Things were not looking up.
Before I could answer, he took his hands off of me and laid his head on his desk. The change was so abrupt that I put some distance between myself and him as soon as possible. I didn't know what was going on, and I was pretty sure I didn't want to. Something had driven Draco Malfoy to this condition. I was afraid of what I was facing.
He didn't say anything, or move and yet again I was unsure of my next step. I had signed a contract, he had called in the favor, and now he appeared to be having a little lie down after the 'mental breakdown party' of a few moments before. There aren't many things in life that confuse me, I am a student by nature, I love study and finding out the whys and wherefores in any situation. But the Draco from today was so different from the "normal" Draco that I was baffled.
"They're demons Granger, demons! Human?...Ha hahhahahah" OH no here we go again, but the laughter trailed off hopelessly in moments, and from the muffled sounds coming from him, he appeared to have fallen asleep. Ok things were getting stranger by the minute.
Draco slept on, I let my eyes wander around the room, then back to him.
"Malfoy?" He didn't even stir.
"DRACO MALFOY!" I said louder now. He mumbled slightly and changed position, but was still lying in his chair draping himself across the desk.
I went to him and shook his shoulder.
"Draco...hello...wakey, wakey." He turned his head to the side, cheek resting on the desk and smiled a bit in his sleep.
Finally I decided I better call in a professional, but there was only one person I knew I could trust. She however hadn't been overly pleased with me since my break up with her brother. I also knew how she felt about Draco Malfoy, there was a very good possibility that she wouldn't be willing to set foot in the house, let alone help me.
I walked to the hallway and called for Morio, within moments I was watching him skulking down the hall, hugging the walls as he came.
"Miss, Hermione Granger, Miss, how is it that Morio is helping you?" He stood nervously rubbing his hands together.
"I need to get a message to Ginny Weasley, St. Mungos, I will need a house owl to send it, where is the owlery?" I smiled encouragement to his small person.
"Oh, Morio will send your letter Hermione Miss." He stood in the same place and didn't say anything more.
I shrugged and turned to the office and noticed there was a cabinet near the door, I hoped it would hold some paper and a quill, so I didn't have to try to move, the still sleeping, Draco Malfoy. It turned out to be a good guess. The Cabinet was filled with office supplies of all sorts. Including monogramed quills. The only blight on my find was there didn't seem to be any stationary or paper that wasn't sporting the Malfoy crest.
Grimacing, I scribbled a quick note:
Ginny,
I am at Draco Malfoy's, I need help. This is NOT an emergency, I repeat NOT an emergency...but please hurry and keep it to yourself.
H. Granger
I hoped she would come. She and I hadn't really talked since I moved out of Ron's apartment. I knew she was disappointed that we wouldn't be sister's in law. It was hard on her being the only girl in the family, since none of her brothers, had yet, managed to find themselves a wife.
I folded the note and gave it to Morio, then went back to the office to keep an eye on Draco as he snored softly.
I felt like I had been here for days, but it had probably been less than an hour all told. Time had a way of lengthening experiences that you didn't want lengthened.
I was thumbing through a new copy of "Wizards and Witches" when Morio returned with a letter from Ginny.
Hermione,
What are you doing at DRACO MALFOY'S house? Why would anyone want to help HIM? Why would YOU want to help him? Draco Malfoy doesn't deserve anyone's help! You better be kidding!!! Tell me you are kidding.
Ginny
The last thing I needed was an argument with Ginny on whether it was a good idea to help Malfoy or not. After all my feelings were the same as hers on the matter.
Ginny,
When have I ever NOT been serious? You are the one person I can trust to help me out here, don't send another owl. Come now! If you are still in the mood to argue we can do that when you get here. Bring your medical kit.
Your Friend,
Hermione
I sealed the note and Morio took it away again.
Ten minutes later Ginny was at the office door with her medical kit and a harried expression on her face.
She was dressed in Medi-Witch White robes and had her red hair all held back from around her face and pinned into a neat roll on the back of her head.
Draco still hadn't done more than drool slightly on the table.
Ginny looked at me a questioning look on her face. I pointed over to Draco. At the sight, of him slumped down over the desk, her eyes got wide.
"Did you kill him? Don't worry we can cover it up...I will stand by you Hermione. After all he did to us, its understandable! No one will blame you, anyone would have done what you...uh, how did you do it?" She sat her bag down and came toward me an understanding look on her face.
Draco mumbled and moved position slightly.
"Damn!" She turned to glare at him. "He isn't dead then."
"Not that lucky." I thought.
Ginny walked over to Draco, walked around him a couple of times and it looked as though she wasn't sure if she was supposed to kick him or help him.
"He looks fine to me."
"Ginny, you haven't even examined him or anything."
"You want me to TOUCH him?" she looked disgusted.
"Ginny!"
"OK, OK, I will just remember my medical oath." She lifted one arm off the desk and took his pulse, then let it drop.
She felt his head, then took out her wand and chanted under her breath. There was a slight aura of light that surrounded Draco for a moment then dissipated. A snort came out of Draco and he smacked his lips.
She took her thumb and forefinger and barely touching him shook him to try to get him to awaken. The most she got out of him was a garbled sentence about clouds and butterflies.
"Well his vital signs are normal, he looks like he is just extremely tired I would love to commit him to St. Mungo's closed ward for a while and let him assist Ex-Professor Lockhart in his autograph signing, but sadly I think he is just exhausted. Did he tell you if he has been having a hard time sleeping lately? Is he taking anything? And why on earth are you here anyway?" She was still standing by Draco, her arms folded across her chest, and all her attention was on me.
I knew when Ginny got this way it was impossible to brush her aside with no explanation, but what did I really know? Nothing! I knew nothing, other than Draco Malfoy needed a babysitter. But a babysitter for what? For how long? Starting when? What could I possibly tell Ginny? My job could be to baby sit Malfoy himself, for all I knew.
"I was just here to discuss something with him when he...uh apparently, went to sleep." I shrugged, that was basically the truth right?
She raised her eyebrow at me and I wondered if she had been practicing that particular little look.
"Seriously, I don't really know anything, what do you think we should do with him?"
She smiled at my phrasing, then her medi-witch training came to the fore and she was immediately the professional.
"We need to get him to his room, do you know where it is?"
"Why WOULD I know where it is?" I countered.
"Just asking." She said in a sing-song little voice.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Is there anyone here except the house elves?" Was her next question.
"I don't think so."
"OK we will have to help him get to his room and in bed. Call that house elf to direct us, and then help me get his other arm."
Ten minutes later found Ginny, Draco, and I walking through the Malfoy home like drinking buddies. His arms were draped over our shoulders and our arms were around his waist. We were rambling along at an extremely slow pace and weaving from side to side. Draco may have lost some weight but he was still a lot heavier than he looked.
He was only lucid enough to know that he was moving, but not lucid enough to realize that he was in his own home or that we weren't still in school. He was making disparaging remarks about 'Potter, and Weasel...and when had the Gryffindor girls found him so attractive? And had we all been having a very good time?'
"Hermione, I know he is out of it, and doesn't know what he is saying, so that part I will let slide, but if he doesn't stop his wandering hands routine I am going to HEX him!" Ginny slapped Draco's hand again where it was resting against her shoulder his thumb slowly caressing small circles.
"Draco! Draco!" I screamed in his ear, which we had found seemed to work to get his attention momentarily.
He jumped slightly, then turned his bleary eyes to me, and smiled.
"Herm-ee-ownee." I shook my head, he was hopeless.
Ginny snorted and we continued our snail's pace down the passageway.
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A/N Well it is going to take me a few days to post the next bit, probably not until Wednesday or Thursday at the least. Work is being a beast. Poor me?
Couple of things....
Spaced out Space Cadet, no I am not Australian, my best friend is though and he has created me into the Aussie-ism queen.
FashionDiva: Could anything with Draco ever be that simple? ;)
Arbitrary: where is your next chapter of Temporary Insanity? Am still hitting refresh button waiting for it.
Everyone else, thanks a million for taking the time to review me, You all are the best. Remember I am still looking for a punctuation police person, until then I will be putting in loads of comas and the run on sentences will simply...RUN-ON!