Chapter 9: Beds are Burning

A/N: Chapter nine. Man, this is totally wicked. I really cannot believe that I've written as much as I have. –pats self on back- And people, let's just say, to clear this up, that the story takes place in present time. Alright? Super! Anyways, onwards. Hope everyone is having a wicked spring break, if you are on it and if you're not – SORRY!Enjoy chapter number nine. Laterdays


Hermione and Draco arrived at the hospital around dinner time so Hermione's mum, Emily, Draco found out, was out getting food for herself and Mrs. Weasley. Hermione talked to the receptionist at the front desk and found out where her father's room. She walked with such force Draco was actually being dragged along. He wasn't looking forward to meeting Robert Granger, Hermione's father. Though, perhaps, hopefully, he would be asleep when they entered the room.

Unfortunately, Mr Granger was wide awake, sitting up and all. Hermione ran over and hugged him; Draco stood back and just smiled. On the taxi ride over they had made it official that they were boyfriend and girlfriend because it would be a little weird explaining everything to Hermione's parents if they weren't. Hermione got off of her father and looked back at Draco, "Daddy, this is Draco Malfoy. My boyfriend, from school." She smiled and grabbed Draco's hand, pulling him forward.

Mr Granger gave him the once over and extended his hand, "Sorry to be meeting you under these circumstances. Hmm," He rubbed his chin, "Now why does the name Malfoy sound so familiar?" He looked at Draco straight in the eye, making him shiver.

"Perhaps, my father, Lucius Malfoy, you have heard of him. He wasa deatheater and a horrible man, you may have heard the Weasley's talk about him before." Draco's face remained emotionless.

"Your father eh? I heard what happened with him. Hermione, could I have a word with you for a moment?" Giving Draco the hint to leave.

"Oh, I'll just go for a walk around the hospital then." Draco turned and walked away. Err; meeting the parents is so difficult. Why can't I just do this right? Do not be nervous! Draco was rubbing his knuckles out of habit and felt a bead of sweat drip from his head. Brutal! He thought. He walked around the hospital and noticed all these weird do-dads that made peculiar noises that sometimes made Draco jump in fear. He walked past a lot of stressed-out looking people who kept shouting things at other people; Doctors, Draco thought. Hermione was walking down the hallway that intercepted his but didn't notice him. She was on her… celp phone? Check phone? Cell phone, Draco decided was correct. She looked up, he waved and she put up her finger to indicate 'one minute.'

"Hey sorry, I was just calling my mum. She said she would be here soon. Mrs Weasley and she went out for dinner and then Mrs Weasley is going home, so mum was hanging about for awhile." Hermione said, almost exasperated. Stressed much! Draco thought. He got closer to her, kissed her cheek and then wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed, releasing her stress.

"It's okay, shh Hermione. It's okay." Draco said soothingly. She backed away and sighed.

"Dad needed some sleep, so I told him we'll visit him again in the morning. Want to grab a bite?" She smiled.

Draco looked at her smile and decided she really was the most gorgeous girl ever. Even with her hair a little fuzzy and messy, her make-up a little runny from tears, her being in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, all of this didn't change the fact. She was gorgeous. Her stunning huge eyes were entrancing and Draco couldn't help himself. He kissed her again, closing his eyes and taking it in. He loved her and he wanted to let her know this. "Dinner it is but it's on me." He said, "Wait. I don't have any muggle money!" He smacked his forehead playfully. "Damn it!"

Hermione smiled, "On me then! No worries, I do have money Malfoy." She stuck out her tongue and turned away from him. He caught up with her and grabbed her hand. Letting all the other guys in this place know that she was his and he was hers. He gave her a quick peak and was on their way.

They found a nice café by the hospital, or well, Hermione found one. Draco was too captivated with cars and the shops with televisions and such in them. He'd never, or rarely, ever seen such things. He was also rapt in the fashion of muggles. Strange. He thought. Very strange.

Inside the café, they ordered and were intently chatting with one another. Is this our first date?Hermione thought. Is this it? Are we officially 'going out'? Am I really going out with Draco Malfoy? Ahh! She was racking her brain for any signs that this was dream but came up empty handed. The café was rather nice, she decided. It was dark, lighted with candles; reminded her and Draco of the castle. She missed Hogwarts quite a bit. She mostly missed Harry and Ginny and, though she would never admit it, Ron too, just a little. Draco missed school and the daily routine of everything, but he realized how lucky he was that he was with Hermione because he knew if she had gone and he didn't go with her, he would be missing her like crazy right now.

"Where should we go next?" Hermione asked Draco.

He shook his head, "I dunno, this is your town, not mine. Show me… anywhere?" He said, not knowing where to go. It wasn't like his town at all. Where he lived there were mostly wizards and there were wizarding shops. He was going to show Hermione that one day, when school was over and he could live in his house.

"Hmm, I don't know either. Why not… the library?" She said, jokingly.

"You've got to be kidding me!" He said and but his arm around her shoulder. "Let's just walk." He said and began to walk around.

An hour later they ended up back in the hospital parking lot. Hermione's mum had called to let her know that she would be spending the night at the hospital. Hermione checked her watch; 9:00pm. "Why don't we go visit my mum?" She said.

"Sure, why not?" Draco said. He felt a few butterflies awake in his stomach and start that stupid dance. Grr. Draco thought. Go away! It's gonna be fine! Her mum can't be as bad as her father. He frowned; he felt a kind of familiarlonesome feeling. His parents were gone, though he didn't really care, they did nothing for him but treat him horribly. Still, he had no one, well, until now... he had Hermione. He released this lonelyfeeling, trying to push it out of him, but it remained and haunted him every once in awhile, especially when he didn't want it there.

Up in the hospital room Emily Granger sat with her dying husband. He was only hanging on by a thread now. She was crying and couldn't stop. She picked up her cell phone and dialled Hermione's number. "Hey you." She said the best she could, trying to disguise her tears. "I was just seeing where you were?" There was a pause, for Hermione to answer. "Oh, dear, I don't think it would be the best time to come visit. I was just going to sleep. I know, early! But I haven't got much sleep lately and seeing as your dad is heavily sleeping I might as well get in a couple of Z's well he's at it." Emily said, "Okay. See you tomorrow bright and early." She said and hung up. She let out her tears again. She couldn't meet her daughter's boyfriend in this state. She laid down on the cot that was set up for her and cried herself into a deep sleep.

Hermione looked over to Draco, "Well, she says she's going to sleep. Told me she's not getting much with dad and all." Draco just softly looked at her as her tears glided down her face.

"Why don't we go home then?" Hermione smiled, he referred to it as home. She giggled, "What's so funny?" He said, smiling.

"Nothing." Hermione said and began to walk. "Why don't we take my mum's car home?" She said, "I have spare keys in my purse." She dug through her purse and found the keys. She phoned her mum, but she didn't pick up, so Hermione left a message saying she took the car and would be back in the morning with it.

They got home pretty quick and went inside the dark house. Hermione sighed, happy to be home. She turned on some lights and headed up to her room. Draco followed her. "Where will I be sleeping love?" Hermione looked back at him with a mischievous smile.

"Anywhere you wanna." She giggled and went into her room to change. She went into her walk-in closet and came out wearing some silky pyjamas. Draco went out Hermione's room to find the bathroom, found it, brushed his teeth and all that jazz and came back to Hermione's room. "Found somewhere to sleep?" She smiled.

"Well, I like the look of this bed." He said and walked over to it, sitting down. He took off his pants to expose a pair of dark green, silky boxers. Hermione watched him as he took off his shirt too, revealing his chiselled body. Hermione could, though didn't let herself, pant. She watched as he lifted up the covers and slid down under them. He now watched her as she furrowed her brow and walked over to the other side of the bed. She jumped on it, not going under the covers. She crawled over to him and got on top of him, kissing him. She felt so much better just having him with her. "Draco, I love you."